06/26/2025
A Promising Turn for Veterans’ Care — My Visit to Washington, D.C.
In mid-June 2025, I had the honor of traveling to Washington, D.C. on behalf of VetCare IOP to meet with Dr. Paul R. Lawrence, the newly appointed Deputy Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs. For those who may not know, Dr. Lawrence is no stranger to the VA or to fighting for Veterans. During the first Trump administration, he served as the Undersecretary for Benefits, where he earned a reputation as a relentless advocate for ensuring Veterans receive the benefits they have earned and deserve.
Our meeting was both positive and encouraging. Dr. Lawrence’s commitment to accountability, transparency, and above all—Veterans themselves—was clear from the start. He welcomed our insights and concerns with both humility and purpose, signaling a strong and renewed focus on fulfilling the intent of the MISSION Act, which was signed into law under President Trump in 2018.
During the meeting, I had the opportunity to speak directly about the critical role the MISSION Act plays in behavioral and mental healthcare for Veterans. As a provider on the front lines, VetCare IOP has seen firsthand how this law has helped countless Veterans access the care they need when the VA system is either unable or unwilling to meet their needs. I was candid about the reality we’ve faced over the past few years: the previous administration—despite inheriting the MISSION Act—worked against its implementation.
References to the MISSION Act were systematically removed from VA websites and literature. Perhaps more troubling, VA staff were reportedly instructed not to inform Veterans about their right to seek care through the Community Care Network (CCN). The result was fewer referrals, longer delays, and greater suffering for Veterans who deserved better. This quiet dismantling of the MISSION Act’s visibility and enforcement undermined the very promise it was designed to fulfill.
Fortunately, the tide is turning. With new leadership in place and a strong, veteran-focused policy agenda taking shape under the second Trump administration, we are hopeful that we will finally see the MISSION Act applied fully and correctly. Dr. Lawrence made it clear that empowering Veterans with choice in their care is once again a priority.
I also had the privilege of sharing VetCare IOP’s overwhelmingly positive experiences with TriWest Healthcare Alliance, which manages the CCN in major parts of the country. TriWest and their entire team have consistently demonstrated an unwavering dedication to providing high-quality, timely, and compassionate care to those who have served. Their professionalism, responsiveness, and sense of mission mirror the values we hold at VetCare IOP.
As we return from D.C., our team is energized. We’re already seeing signs of change—an increase in CCN referrals and a renewed sense of partnership between the VA and community providers. The path ahead will still require vigilance and advocacy, but the momentum has shifted. Veterans are once again being placed at the center of the conversation.
VetCare IOP remains committed to being a voice for those who served and a partner to those working to rebuild a better, more accessible system of care. The MISSION Act is not just policy—it is a promise, and one we are now more hopeful than ever will be kept.
