For too long, America’s veterans have been caught in a system that talks about gratitude but delivers red tape. The Department of Veterans Affairs was supposed to offer world-class care. Instead, it’s been stiffing the very doctors and rehab specialists who make that care possible.
I’ve seen it firsthand. A trusted San Diego rehab facility — one I’ve personally relied on for my own employees — had to stop accepting veterans. Not because they lacked compassion or skill, but because the VA owed them hundreds of thousands of dollars. The slow-pay, no-pay routine nearly sank their business. These were elite professionals, forced to walk away from the very people they were built to serve.
This isn’t an isolated case. Across the country, the VA’s community care program — designed to let veterans see private providers when VA facilities fall short — has been crippled by bureaucratic delays and unpaid bills. According to the VA’s own Health Economics Resource Center, only 60% of claims are paid within 30 days. The rest can take up to 112 days. That’s not just inefficient, it’s a threat to veterans’ health.
From 2021 to 2023, over 350,000 behavioral health referrals were sent to private providers. Yet one-third of those lacked even basic medical record sharing back to the VA, according to the Government Accountability Office. Continuity of care is shattered. And many of the best mental health and rehab specialists have left the VA network entirely, citing the frustration of chasing payments instead of treating patients.
Let’s be clear: When you refuse to pay the people doing the work, they stop working for you. And veterans suffer.
Thankfully, under President Donald Trump, the VA is finally shifting course. The appointment of Secretary Doug Collins marks a turning point. I met with Collins in Washington, and it was obvious he’s not interested in preserving a bloated bureaucracy. He’s focused on outcomes — by replacing paper pushers with doctors, nurses, and external care providers who can actually deliver results.
Collins understands what too many in Washington have forgotten: veterans don’t need more forms, they need more healing. At a recent hearing, not one lawmaker asked about improving care. They fixated on staffing cuts, ignoring Collins’ repeated commitment to redirect personnel toward frontline service. That’s a mistake. Because this overhaul only works if the VA pays its bills on time and clears the path for providers to do their job.
This is not just a policy issue — it’s a moral one. Veterans signed a blank check for this country, offering their lives in defense of our freedom. The least we can do is ensure they receive timely, competent care when they come home. That starts with paying the doctors who treat them.
The solution isn’t complicated. Guarantee payment to VA-approved providers within 30 days. Slash the seven-layer approval process down to two. Protect continuity of care so veterans aren’t dumped mid-treatment over billing disputes. These aren’t radical ideas — they’re common-sense reforms that any serious leader should embrace.
And that’s exactly what President Trump and Secretary Collins are doing. Collins has already redirected $98 million toward direct veteran care — not bureaucracy. That’s the kind of leadership we need. Trump made the right call in choosing someone who understands that veterans deserve more than lip service — they deserve results.
But make no mistake: this is the VA’s last chance to fix broken relationships with community providers. If it fails, critics will declare that privatization doesn’t work. But let’s be honest — it was never given a fair shot. The VA bureaucracy poisoned them well by stiffing providers. Private care works when you actually pay for it.
VA WATCHDOG FINDS RECORD LEVELS OF STAFFING SHORTAGES
We have the right plan, the right moment, and finally, the right people in place. Now it’s time to deliver. If Congress truly cares about veterans, it’ll stop playing politics and start supporting the reforms that matter. If the media wants to cover real stories of injustice, they’ll shine a light on the providers being forced out of the system. And if the American people want to honor those who served, they’ll demand accountability from the VA.
Pay the doctors. Keep the promise. Save veterans’ care.
Kate Monroe is a Marine Corps veteran and founder of Vetcomm.us.