House panel hears that VA vendor payments, pricing and a sudden trade‑in policy change are disrupting adaptive vehicle access for veterans

WASHINGTON — Lawmakers and industry witnesses told the House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity on Wednesday that recurring delays in VA payments to mobility dealers, an outdated reimbursement price schedule and a sudden change to the vehicle trade‑in policy threaten veterans' access to adapted vehicles.

The complaint came from dealers and manufacturers who testified that VA invoices are being paid months — and in some cases years — late and that a 2024 policy change lengthening the eligible trade‑in cycle has surprised veterans and dealers. Craig Scrimsher, president of North American Manufacturing for BraunAbility, told the panel the company’s dealer network reported roughly $11 million in past‑due payments in a study of 89 dealerships and an average delay of 186 days. He said the VA published a price schedule based on 2021 data that was not released until 2024 and that commercial vehicle inflation since then has not been reflected.

Why it matters: veterans rely on adapted vehicles to travel independently, access jobs and health care. When dealers do not receive timely payment, they may stop contracting with VA, reducing…