Advocacy group Veterans Action drafts bill of rights to ensure, improve healthcare for military vets

The non-profit advocacy group Veterans Action has drafted a 10-point Veterans Bill of Rights that focuses on trying to ensure “the men and women who have donned the uniform and faced the unimaginable securing our freedoms” have better access to health care and calls for increased accountability within the Department of Veterans Affairs.

“Their courage knows no bounds,” writes the bill’s author, Darin Selnick, a Veteran Action senior adviser. “Yet it is not enough to simply hail their heroism. We must, as a nation bound by honor and justice, shepherd them home with the same unyielding resolve they exhibited on the battlefield."

Selnick, a principal architect of the MISSION Act, considered the most significant transformation of VA healthcare in over 20 years.

Selnick also served at the White House as the Veterans Affairs adviser on the Domestic Policy Council, coordinating federal veteran initiatives and authoring the Presidential Executive Order on Supporting Our Veterans During Their Transition to Civilian Life. 

Selnick, a former deputy chief of staff to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, also called the document “a sacred pledge to those who have borne the burdens of liberty."

"This Bill of Rights stands as a testament to our enduring gratitude and unwavering commitment," he also said.

The pledge is as follows:

1. Freedom of Choice: Veterans have the right to choose the best healthcare provider for themselves whether at VA or in the community to ensure the best possible care for themselves and their families. 

2. Respect and Dignity: Veterans have the right to be treated with respect and dignity, regardless of their rank or position, and to expect timely and courteous service.

3. Informed Consent: Veterans have the right to be fully informed about their care, treatment, and options and must give consent to any decisions affecting it. 

4. Awareness of Benefits: Veterans have the right to receive comprehensive information about all programs and benefits for which they are eligible.

5. Access to Benefits: Veterans have the right to apply for their earned benefits at any time and are entitled to a clear explanation of decisions regarding their eligibility for those benefits. 

6. Healthcare Without Retaliation: Veterans have the right to necessary health services related to their service without fear of retaliation or stigma. 

7. Privacy: Veterans have the right to have their personal information protected, and it must be kept confidential and used solely for determining VA benefits eligibility. 

8. Right to Redress Grievances: Veterans have the right to file complaints and have them thoroughly investigated and resolved if they feel their rights are compromised. 

9. Transparent Communication: Veterans have the right to receive clear written notifications and explanations regarding the approval or denial of their benefits. 

10. Appeal and Fair Hearing: Veterans have the right to appeal decisions and are guaranteed a formal hearing within a reasonable time if they dispute actions taken in their case.