The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has announced a proposed rule to exempt veterans from paying copays for specific Whole Health well-being services. These services, which are available at VA facilities nationwide, focus on the overall well-being of veterans, independent of any specific medical condition or diagnosis.

Whole Health well-being services include education, health and wellness coaching, skill-building programs, and complementary and integrative health services such as yoga and meditation. The proposal is part of the VA's efforts to expand access to healthcare while reducing costs for veterans.

The Biden-Harris Administration has been working towards expanding access to VA care. Recently, the VA began waiving copays for veterans' first three outpatient mental health visits each year and proposed waiving copays for all telehealth visits. Additionally, tele-emergency care is now available nationwide.

"Copayment exemptions for Whole Health services is a step forward in creating greater access to preventative care for Veterans," stated Shereef Elnahal, VA Under Secretary for Health. "VA is the best and most affordable care in America for Veterans — and this proposed ruling is another step forward to ensuring that cost never prevents a Veteran from getting the care they deserve."

While only some veterans require copays for VA care, these payments can deter participation in necessary programs. Currently, there are multiple exemptions in place that encourage participation in weight management counseling and public health initiatives like health fairs or preventative screenings.

The new proposal aims to further assist veterans by removing financial barriers that may prevent them from seeking essential well-being services. The rulemaking will be open for public comment beginning January 6th on the Federal Register webpage.

For additional details about Whole Health offerings at the VA, interested parties can visit their official website.