releases: https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=E9B2EAF8-9524-4D8F-95D9-87C6D03A5ED7
Data license: MIT · Data source: dwillis/congress-press
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| https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=E9B2EAF8-9524-4D8F-95D9-87C6D03A5ED7 | Heitkamp: New Fargo VA Pilot Program Will Improve Scheduling & Care for North Dakota Veterans | 2016-10-04 | 2016 | 2016-10 | Democrat | House | ND | Heidi Heitkamp | H001069 | www.heitkamp.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today announced that a new pilot program will allow veterans to use the Fargo Veterans Affairs (VA) Health Care System to schedule appointments through the Veterans Choice Program starting today. Area veterans currently schedule appointments for non-VA care under the Choice Program through HealthNet, a third party administrator that has created headaches for veterans seeking everything from routine checkups to life-saving cancer treatments in their home communities. Effective today, the Choice Program Care Coordination initiative will allow veterans to contact the Fargo VA’s Clinical Resource Management Department at 866-517-9363 to schedule appointments directly rather than relying on HealthNet. “Making sure veterans can use the Fargo VA to schedule appointments is a critical step in fixing the Veterans Choice program, and it’s a move I’ve long called for,” said Heitkamp. “When I held a roundtable on the Choice Program in Grand Forks in August, I heard from veterans, the VA, and health providers about how to fix the program – and scheduling difficulties cropped up again and again in our discussion. Going forward, I’ll keep fighting to reform the Choice Program and guarantee our brave veterans get the care they need in their home communities.” In August, Heitkamp brought together veterans, local VA leaders, and health care providers in Grand Forks to discuss fixes she has proposed to improve the Veterans Choice program, so that North Dakota veterans get quality, timely care in their home communities. As Heitkamp works to reform the program, she has been gathering insight from veterans and care providers. Heitkamp helped introduce a bill to reform the Veterans Choice program in March. The Improving Veterans Access to Care in the Community Act would give the VA flexibility to improve care for North Dakota veterans by streamlining and consolidating community care programs, while eliminating bureaucratic obstacles preventing veterans from accessing care. Two provisions from that bill – which would boost VA spending flexibility and simplify VA medical provider agreements – were included in the Veterans First Act, a bill the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee passed in May. The bill is awaiting consideration by the Senate. Congress passed a bipartisan bill to reform the VA and improve access to care in 2014, and since then Heitkamp has pushed to make sure the bill is implemented properly – especially for veterans who live far from VA medical facilities. The reforms included a Veterans Choice program to allow veterans who have difficulty obtaining a timely appointment with the VA or live more than 40 miles from a VA health care facility to seek care from local providers. However, countless North Dakota veterans – as well as some participating community health providers – have shared serious challenges they have encountered in the new program. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z |