Obama signs new law boosting veterans health

—$1.3 billion to open 27 outpatient clinics and other medical facilities in 18 states and Puerto Rico

—Gives the VA secretary authority to fire poor-performing senior executives immediately.

—Expands a scholarship program for children of veterans killed in the line of duty to include surviving spouses

—Allows all returning veterans and eligible dependents to qualify for in-state tuition at public colleges and universities under the Post-9/11 GI Bill

—Cuts funding for annual bonuses for VA employees to $360 million, $40 million less than last year.

Associated Press

Tens of thousands of military veterans who have been enduring long waits for medical care should be able to turn to private doctors almost immediately under a law signed Thursday by President Barack Obama.

Other changes will take longer under the $16.3 billion law, which is the government’s most sweeping response to the problems that have rocked the Veterans Affairs Department and led to the ouster of Eric Shinseki as VA secretary.

Improved access to outside care is likely to be the most immediate effect. Veterans who have waited at least a month for a medical appointment or who live at least 40 miles from a Veterans Affairs hospital or clinic will be able to see private doctors at government expense.

Expanding the VA staff by hiring thousands of doctors, nurses and mental health counselors — another key component of the law — will take months to get underway and years to complete, VA officials said. Opening 27 new clinics across the country will take at least two years.

“Implementing this law will take time,” Obama acknowledged as he signed the bill at Fort Belvoir, an Army base in Virginia just outside Washington. Service members, veterans groups and military leaders attended the ceremony, along with lawmakers from both parties.

Obama called the legislation a rare example of Republicans and Democrats working together effectively. He also said more action was needed.

“This will not and cannot be the end of our effort,” he said. “And even as we focus on the urgent reforms we need at the VA right now, particularly around wait lists and the health care system, we can’t lose sight of our long-term goals for our service members and our veterans.”

Noting issues such as mental health care and homelessness among veterans, he said, “we’ve got more work to do.”

Paul Rieckhoff, founder and CEO of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, called the new law “a Band-Aid solution,” all that Congress could accomplish in an emergency.

“Anybody who thinks this is going to fix the problem is not being honest about this,” Rieckhoff said.

Daniel Dellinger, national commander of the American Legion, the nation’s largest veterans group, called the bill an important step to begin repairing systemic problems at the VA.

“But it is only one step and only a beginning,” he said.

The measure, approved overwhelmingly in the House and Senate, is a response to reports of veterans dying while awaiting appointments to see VA doctors and of a widespread practice of employees covering up months-long wait times for appointments. In some cases, employees received bonuses based on falsified records.

Under the new law, employment rules will be revised to make it easier to fire senior VA executives judged to be negligent or performing poorly.