WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) and Bill Cassidy (R-IA) introduced legislation to enhance the quality and efficiency of health care services provided to veterans. The VetPAC Act of 2024 creates a new Veterans Health Administration Policy Advisory Commission (VetPAC) to facilitate a transparent, expert-driven review process for the Veterans Health Administration (VHA).
“As we work to ensure those who served our country can access the high-quality health care they’ve earned, the VetPAC Act of 2024 will create a new independent commission to address challenges the VHA faces and improve care for our veterans,” said Senator Hirono. “As a member of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, I am proud to introduce this legislation that will support Congress’ work to help improve health care access, delivery, and quality for veterans.
Modeled after the successful Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC) and the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC), the 17-member independent commission will focus on improving health care delivery and addressing the operations challenges within the VHA. Led by health care and large medical system experts, the commission would review pressing veterans’ health topics such as health care delivery and access at VA Health facilities and in the community, workforce issues, and VA medical research.
By conducting regular assessments and providing recommendations to Congress, this legislation seeks to ensure critical areas such as technology, staffing, and patient care are continuously improved.
This legislation is endorsed by the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
“The VFW supports the VetPAC Act of 2024 that would establish a commission to review operations at the Veterans Health Administration and submit reports to Congress,” said Veterans of Foreign Wars National Legislative Associate Director Meggan Coleman. “The VFW believes the recommendations from these assessments would aid Congress in proposing meaningful legislation to ensure veterans receive adequate care. We thank Senator Hirono and Cassidy for introducing this bill and we look forward to its passage into law.”
The full text of the legislation is available here.
As a member of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, Senator Hirono has consistently worked to support veterans in Hawaii and across the country. In May 2024, Senator Hirono introduced the Parity for Native Hawaiian Veterans Act, legislation to improve the affordability of health care services for Native Hawaiian veterans. Among other things, the bill would eliminate copays for Native Hawaiian veterans for care received through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and would enable Native Hawaiian Health Care Systems to seek direct reimbursement from VA for care provided to Native Hawaiian veterans. In April 2024, Senator Hirono introduced the Honoring Veterans’ Legacies and Burial Benefits Enhancements Act to improve memorialization and burial benefits for veterans and their families. In February 2024, following a concerning Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Office of Inspector General (OIG) report finding significant shortfalls in care provided by VA to veterans who seek care after experiencing a sexual assault, Senator Hirono joined her colleagues in sending a letter to VA Secretary Denis McDonough, urging the Department to take immediate steps to improve the readiness of VA facilities and staff to address the needs of veterans.
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