By Patricia Kime
After much debate over how the Veterans Affairs Department chose to define the 40-mile distance rule for veterans to access the new Veterans Choice health program, VA will announce today that it’s changing the definition.
Rather than use an “as the crow flies” measure of 40 miles, VA will rely on driving distance from a VA medical facility as the qualifier to use Veterans Choice, a program that lets veterans see a civilian health care provider if they live in a remote area or can’t get an appointment at a VA facility.
Under the VA Access, Choice and Accountability Act passed by Congress last year, veterans who live more than 40 miles from a VA facility were supposed to have access to the Choice Card program.
But VA’s strict, straight-line interpretation left some veterans with lengthy drives because of geographic obstacles or convoluted roadway routes.
The Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee has a hearing scheduled today on the 40-mile rule; 
earlier this month, 41 senators petitioned VA to relax its interpretation.
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