Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Tom Emmer sent a letter to Veterans Integrated Services Network (VISN) 23 Director Robert McDivitt voicing his concerns over recent changes to the Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) program which have significantly impacted access to home-based care and transportation services for Minnesota veterans.
“Our veterans deserve the best possible care our country has to offer, and they shouldn’t face burdensome hurdles to receive it. We must do everything we can to streamline veterans’ access to health care. We will continue to work to ensure that our veterans have access to these essential services and look forward to the Director’s response,” Congressman Tom Emmer said.
Veterans Integrated Services Networks are regional health care networks within the Department of Veterans Affairs. The United States is divided into 18 VISNs. VISN 23, the VA Midwest Health Care Network, serves more than 440,000 veterans in Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and portions of Illinois, Kansas, Missouri, Wisconsin and Wyoming.
In June 2023, VISN 23 began implementing changes to its HCBS program. This has left many Minnesota veterans concerned as longstanding services are reportedly being denied or significantly limited.
In the letter addressed to Director McDivitt, Congressman Emmer details the impact these changes have had on veterans in Minnesota’s Sixth Congressional District, including reports of veterans losing access to important services such as weekly home visits and transportation from private providers. The letter also describes a situation where an aging Minnesota veteran, who lives alone and previously relied on home-care agency visits for basic assistance around the house, was abruptly denied these services with no explanation. Another Minnesota veteran, who relied on transportation services to attend local events and connect with fellow veterans, also saw his access to these important services denied.
Congressman Emmer’s letter to Director McDivitt can be found here.
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