September 4, 2019 3:45 a.m.
On Tuesday, Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley from Oregon along with Mike Crapo and Jim Risch of Idaho, pressed TriWest Healthcare Alliance on its implementation of the new urgent care benefit under the VA MISSION Act, following reports that veterans in rural Oregon and Idaho are unable to access the benefit.
A release from the Senators said a letter to TriWest President and Chief Executive Officer David McIntyre Jr. noted that veterans in rural communities in their state have cited the lack of an urgent care network in their area, as well as additional barriers to information on their options through the TriWest locator tool.
The letter said that veterans in Roseburg have no in-network urgent care clinics within 20 miles while veterans in John Day, Oregon would have to travel 74 miles to access urgent care. They listed issues in 2 communities in Idaho as well.
The Senators asked a number of questions of TriWest including when the urgent care network is expected to be complete.
The release said the Senators are asking TriWest to “work closely with the VAMC’s in Oregon, Idaho and Washington to build out its urgent care network as soon as possible” and ensure that veterans receive clear information about their options.