ANA\California Urges Action to Protect Veterans’ Access to Healthcare

ANAC Urges Action to Protect Veterans’ Access to Healthcare.pdf

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April 17, 2025

Sacramento, CA

The American Nurses Association\California (ANA\California) is deeply concerned about the growing barriers to healthcare access for veterans following recent federal policy changes. Cuts to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) funding and services are disrupting benefits, delaying care, and forcing many veterans to seek treatment in an already overburdened public and private healthcare system. Veterans receiving disability benefits are now being notified that their claims are under review, creating uncertainty about their financial and healthcare security. Staffing reductions to the Veterans Crisis Line and benefits processing centers are compounding delays, leaving many without timely access to critical resources. Veterans from low-income and historically marginalized communities are among the most affected, as they rely more heavily on the VA for healthcare services. With reduced resources, more veterans will be left without access to care, and those who are uninsured will have no coverage at all. Data shows that 20% of veterans are uninsured, while nearly 13% of working-age veterans struggle to pay medical bills.

The increased demand for civilian healthcare, combined with these systemic barriers, puts veterans at heightened risk for worsening mental health, financial distress, and increased suicide rates. "Veterans are already experiencing disruptions in care, delays in benefits processing, and reduced access to critical services like mental health support. These issues will only worsen as more veterans turn to a civilian healthcare system that isn’t designed to fully address their service-related health concerns," said Dr. Ali R. Tayyeb PhD, RN, a veteran, nurse, and healthcare policy expert. ANA\California urges federal and state leaders to take immediate action to restore VA funding, ensure timely benefits processing, and expand access to nurse practitioners and advanced practice nurses who can fill critical gaps in care. Without intervention, more veterans will be left without essential healthcare, worsening health disparities and placing additional strain on already limited resources.

Sincerely,

Dr. Marketa Houskova, DNP, MAIA, BA, RN

Chief Executive Officer

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About American Nurses Association\California (ANA\California) 

ANA\C is a bi-partisan professional nursing organization representing the interests of more than  500,000 licensed registered nurses in California. Our mission is to optimize nursing contributions to the health and well-being of individuals, families, and communities. As a state-level professional advocacy organization, ANA\C has been extensively involved in legislative efforts supporting many bills, regulations, and policies that became California’s laws and are currently assisting in making California a place of Nursing Excellence.