Veterans Choice Program change now in effect

The Department of Veterans Affairs said it has finalized its previously announced change to how it calculates eligibility to participate in the Veterans Choice Program.

The program, which allows veterans to access care in their communities if they live more than 40 miles from a VA medical facility, will now calculate the required distance between one's residence and a facility using driving distance rather than straight-line distance. 

The change in regulation, which is effective immediately, will approximately double the number of veterans who are eligible to participate in the program, the department said. VA said it will send letters to the additional vets who can now participate to inform them of their new eligibility. 

For consistency, VA said it also has changed the mileage calculation for beneficiary travel to the same method, effective immediately.