[20150511]IF10224_退伍军人选择计划（VCP）的实施.pdf

www.crs.gov | 7-5700 May 11, 2015Implementation of the Veterans Choice Program (VCP)In response to concerns about access to medical care at many Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) hospitals and clinics across the country, Congress passed the Veterans Access, Choice and Accountability Act of 2014 (VACAA). On August 7, 2014, President Obama signed the bill into law (P.L. 113-146 as amended by P.L. 113-175 and P.L. 113-235). For a detailed provision-by-provision explanation of the Act see, CRS Report R43704, Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 (H.R. 3230; P.L. 113-146). Section 101 of VACAA authorized the Veterans Choice Program (VCP) a new, temporary program that provides veterans the ability to receive medical care in the community. The temporary program will end when the $10 billion in mandatory funding are used, or no later than August 7, 2017. This new program is in addition to several already existing statutory authorities that allow the VA to provide care outside of its own health care system (38 U.S.C. 1703, 1703note, 1725, 1728, 8111, and 8153). Generally, these statutory authorities fall into three broad categories: 1) contracts to purchase care, 2) non