Amata and Veterans Committee Hold Hearing on: The Commission on Care and the Future of the VA Healthcare System

Washington, D.C. – Wednesday, Congresswoman Aumua Amata, and the House Veterans Affairs Committee conducted an oversight hearing on Capitol Hill Wednesday morning, to examine the Commission on Care and the future of the VA healthcare system.

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“The report that has been provided to the committee from the Commission on Care will undoubtedly prove to be an extremely useful tool in determining the best way forward for the future healthcare of our veterans,” stated Amata. “I know that our veterans in American Samoa are desperate for substantial yet realistic improvements to the services, facilities, and care provided to them on our islands. Through an ongoing discussion with VA Secretary Bob McDonald, I continue to put our veterans at home and in the other territories at the forefront of any changes to VA policies, and look forward to continuing my working relationships with my fellow committee members to see that it is done sooner rather than later. Our veterans in American Samoa have sacrificed so much for the United States, and it is time that they receive the same benefits and services as any other veteran,” stated the Congresswoman.

The Commission on Care was established by section 202 of the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 (Public Law 113-146), to examine access to care and how to best organize the Department of Veterans Affairs Veterans Health Administration, including locating health resources, and delivering health care to the nation’s veterans over the next 20 years.

During the hearing, the Committee discussed the analysis from the Commission and the recommendations in the final report including; establish high-performing, integrated community-based health care networks; enhancing clinical operations through more effective use of providers and other health professionals; improving data collection and management; developing a process for appealing clinical decisions that provides veterans protection at least comparable to those afforded to patients under other federally-supported programs; modernizing the VA’s IT systems and infrastructure to improve veterans’ health and well-being and provide the foundation needed to transform VHA’s clinical and business processes; and several others.

“I want to thank the Commission for their hard work in providing the committee with this comprehensive and substantial report on the current state of the VA healthcare system, as well as the recommended changes needed to drastically improve the care our veterans receive,” said Amata. “I know that I and my colleagues on the committee will continue to do all we can to ensure that all of our nation’s veterans are being given the care and services that they have so rightfully earned,” concluded Amata.

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