³Ô¹Ï²»´òìÈ

With just a few weeks to go before its June 6 launch, lawmakers, providers, and advocates are wary about the Veterans Affairs Department’s ability to roll out an expanded private-care program for veterans on schedule without experiencing major glitches like the last time. They fear the 9.2 million veterans eligible for VA-paid healthcare will continue having trouble accessing timely, high-quality care outside of Veterans Affairs hospitals and clinics. (Meyer, 4/27)

Interviews with veterans at the VA Lakeside Clinic in Chicago in mid-April produced mixed views about the quality and accessibility of VA medical services. Most wanted the option to receive care from private-sector providers when needed, even though surveys show veterans nationally express trust in VA medical services and increasingly are using them. (Meyer, 4/27)