Senators Press VA on Community Care, Mental‑Health Residential Access and Mortgage Relief Programs
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Summary
Lawmakers asked the VA about expanding Mission Act access standards to include residential mental‑health rehabilitation, problems with third‑party administrators in community care, the end of the VA service purchase program (VASP), and calls to cap contingency fees for Camp Lejeune claimants.
Senators used the hearing to press the VA on community care implementation under the Mission Act, access to residential mental‑health treatment, problems with third‑party administrators and program changes affecting veterans' housing and claims.
Mission Act and mental‑health residential care: Senator Jerry Moran and others asked whether the VA would add mental health residential rehabilitation treatment programs to Mission Act access standards to expand community‑based access for veterans at risk of suicide. Secretary Collins told the committee that this change was under way: "Yes. And I think that is going through right now and adding those as we go forward... we agree with you that any opportunity that we can take to give more service to the veterans, especially in the mental health area."
Community care and third‑party administrators: Senators raised operational roadblocks to community care, including slow approvals and challenges with third‑party administrators that coordinate care between VA and community providers. Collins said the VA has a working group reviewing community care and that the department is looking at contract renewals and authorization processes to speed access.
Mortgage relief and VASP: Lawmakers also questioned the decision to end the VA Service Purchase Program (VASP) that had used VA authority to manage delinquent veterans' mortgages during the COVID era; Secretary Collins said discretionary elements of that program ended May 1 and noted Congress may need to act to create long‑term solutions, such as partial‑claim approaches under discussion in legislation.
Camp Lejeune claimants and contingency fees: Senators raised concerns about law firms charging large contingency fees to Camp Lejeune claimants. Secretary Collins supported the department's public 'scam alert' and said the VA will work with Congress and other agencies; senators asked the VA to support legislation capping contingency fees for claimants and to provide technical assistance if requested.
Ending: The VA committed to pursue Mission Act adjustments for residential mental‑health access, to review community‑care authorizations and third‑party administrator contracts, and to coordinate with Congress on mortgage‑relief and claimant‑protection measures; senators asked for written updates on each item.