Veterans’ Health Care

Access to high-quality health care remains the top concern among IAVA members. While the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) delivers care that often meets or exceeds private-sector standards, veterans continue to face systemic barriers including fragmented care under expanded community care programs, inconsistent access to mental health services, persistent suicide risk, especially among younger and women veterans, disability claims backlogs and outdated IT systems, and uneven implementation of toxic exposure benefits under the PACT Act.

2026 Priorities Include:

• Full funding and rigorous oversight of PACT Act implementation
• Strengthening suicide prevention through lethal means safety legislation
• Expanding rural and tele-mental health access
• Supporting innovative therapy research and clinical trials
• Modernizing disability claims systems to reduce delays