For generations, the VA health care system has embodied the nation’s promise to those who have served. Operated by the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), it provides not only medical care, but also critical support to veterans, families, caregivers, and survivors while advancing the broader health of the nation through education, innovation, and emergency response.

The far-reaching contributions of the VHA, and its importance to the nation, stem from its four core missions: delivering health care, training and educating health care professionals, conducting groundbreaking research, and responding to national emergencies. Together, these missions make the VHA a cornerstone of veteran support and a vital national asset.

Delivering Health Care

Serving more than 9 million veterans across more than 1,300 facilities, the VHA offers a full spectrum of health care services — from primary and mental health care to cutting-edge specialty treatments and services. To improve the quality of care and expand its services, the VA has in recent years:

• Reduced Wait Times: Improved access to primary and mental health care, often outperforming private-sector benchmarks.
  
  
• Expanded Community Care: Used the MISSION Act of 2018 to bolster its ability to refer veterans to non-VA providers when needed to access timely, specialized care closer to home.
  
  
• Grown Telehealth Services: Experienced a significant expansion in its remote programs, with dramatic increases in access for rural and homebound veterans.
  
  
• Adopted a Whole Health Model: Developed a new approach which helps veterans design personalized wellness plans including acupuncture, yoga, and nutritional counseling, allowing them to live fuller lives.
  
  
• Supported Caregivers: Expanded caregiver support programs including its specialized Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers, offering home-based services, training, respite care, stipends, and more to those caring for veterans with serious injuries.

Training the Nation’s Health Workforce

The VA is not just a provider of care — it is a vital educator. Through academic partnerships with over 1,400 institutions, the VA trains the next generation of health care professionals.

Each year, approximately 120,000 medical trainees — including physicians, nurses, psychologists, and social workers — gain clinical experience by working in VA facilities. An estimated 70% of practicing U.S. physicians have trained in the VHA.  

This hands-on training prepares providers for complex, team-based care environments and enhances the nation’s overall health system capacity. These education programs equip providers to serve veterans from all backgrounds and communities.

VHA’s mission also extends to continuous learning and professional development for its workforce. VA clinicians benefit from ongoing access to advanced training, cutting-edge research, and academic partnerships — ensuring they remain at the forefront of medical innovation and best practices to better serve veterans.

Driving Innovation Through Medical Research

The VA has long been a leader in advancing medical knowledge with discoveries that benefit both veterans and the general population.

• Pioneering Breakthroughs: VA research has led to major innovations including the first successful liver transplant, the cardiac pacemaker, and computer tomography imaging technologies. The VA was also a trailblazer in using barcodes as part of medication administration, a widely adopted tool to reduce medication errors.
  
  
• Precision Medicine and Genomics: The VA delivers cutting-edge cancer care through genetic sequencing. In tandem with the Million Veteran Program — one of the world’s largest health-genomics databases — VA researchers are uncovering connections between genes and chronic conditions such as post- traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.
  
  
• Mental Health Leadership: VA research has led to the development of evidence-based therapies like prolonged exposure therapy and cognitive processing therapy for PTSD. These treatments, first validated within the VA, are used widely throughout the U.S. mental health system.

Protecting the Nation in Times of Crisis

The VA’s “Fourth Mission” serves all Americans — mobilizing department resources to aid in emergencies, disasters, and public health crises. Examples include:

• COVID-19 Pandemic Response: During the pandemic, the VA provided critical support beyond its veteran patient base, treating non-veterans, deploying more than 4,000 staff, and distributing millions of vaccine doses through federal and community partnerships.
  
  
• Disaster Response Teams: Using a specialized personnel system, the VA is able to rapidly mobilize clinical staff to respond to wildfires, hurricanes, and other large-scale emergencies.
  
  
• National Health Infrastructure: VA medical centers serve as federal coordinating centers as part of a larger national disaster medical system response, ensuring surge capacity for mass casualty or pandemic scenarios — a role crucial to U.S. preparedness.

MOAA’s Commitment to Improving the VHA and Honoring Veterans 

These four missions form the backbone of a system that not only honors veterans with world-class care, but also serves the nation through cutting-edge medical education, groundbreaking research, and vital emergency response capabilities.

Like all large health care systems, the VA faces challenges. MOAA acknowledges the need for continued reform to simplify the system and ensure veterans can more easily access the care and benefits they’ve earned.

We remain steadfast in our commitment to work alongside VA Secretary Doug Collins and Congress to drive meaningful, veteran-centered improvements that enhance quality, increase transparency, and ensure timely access to care.

By preserving and strengthening VA health care, we not only honor the sacrifices of our veterans — we invest in the health, resilience, and well-being of the entire nation.

Your Voice Matters: Share With MOAA

Have you experienced the benefits of VA health care? Do you have thoughts on how to improve the VHA system? We’re eager to hear from you. Reach out to MOAA’s legislative team at legis@moaa.org to share your experiences and recommendations.