mr. selnick, let me ask you. your recommendation is that the va should finalize its choice program, long-term new veterans program, only after the commission on care provides findings and recommendations to the congress and president and they decide which recommendations are feasible and advisable. do you have a time frame as to when those recommendations will be made? >> as of right now, based on the legislation, we are due at the end of february. >> in february. >> that is as of right now that's when we're due. >> so you would advise waiting until sometime this spring or later when there is feedback from the president and congress before the va finalizes its choice program? >> yes, i think the va's program has some merits to it. i'm speaking for myself, not for the commission or anything, but personally, i feel that it can be a more collaborative process. and as part of that collaborative process, let's have a process where we have a really integrated systems approach where we co up with a comprehensive solutio

mr. selnick, thank you, mr. rausch. >> chairman moran, on behalf of iraq and afghanistan veterans of america and our 425,000 members and supporters thank you for the opportunity to share views with you today at the hearing consolidating non-va care programs. we are proud to have testified in front of the committee recommending the need for veterans enrolled in va health care and we applaud congress for requiring va to put forward a plan for consolidation. we want to recognize senior leaders for acknowledging the need for consolidation and providing an approach and process inclusive, transparent, and veteran centric. last year, the act was being implemented, it became apparent that the new law was confusing and added to a series of previous plans. 43% of respondents stated the main reason for not utilizing choice was simply because they did not know how. while 28% of our members who utilized the program said their experience using choice was extremely negative. although necessary to address the access crisis at v

mr. selnick, you hear the senator with senator moran, myself and the va about the problems in liberal kansas and the choice accessibility and the ease or difficulty of that program. you made a comment a minute ago that you weren't sure that the -- those providing services at the local level and the va at the washington level understood how the program was really working or something like that. is that -- did i hear you right? >> i mentioned a number of different challenges with the program, its staff, its process, the call center. the whole thing has been a problem. >> i think -- i think you are right. and i think -- i don't blame anybody for this. but i think there is a misunderstanding up and down the chain of command in terms of what the intent of choice was and what some of the changes we have made. i hope as we implement the two changes you rolled out yesterday, you will make sure the people at the local level and the c-box and hospitals and medical facilities understand what that really means in terms of the veterans' access. those are two remarkable changes that will make choice bette

mr. selnick, you heard exchange with senator moran and myself about the v.a. and the problems in kansas and the choice accessibility and the ease or difficulty of that program? you made a comment a moment ago that you weren't sure that those providing services at the local level and the v.a. at the washington level understood how the program was really working, or something like that. did i hear you right? >> well, i mentioned a number of different challenges with the program, its staff, its process, its call center, the whole thing has been a problem. >> and i think you're right. and i don't blame anybody for this. but i think there is a misunderstanding up and down the chain of command in terms of what the intent of choice was and what some of the changes we made. i hope as we implement these two changes y'all rolled up yesterday, you'll make sure that people at the local level and the hospitals and medical facilities understand what that really means in terms of the veterans' access, because those are two remarkable changes that will make choice better for

mr. darren selnick, for concerned veterans of america. mr.ill roush, political director for iraq and afghanistan veterans. mr. kelly, director of national services for veterans of foreign wars. >> and while you're taking your seats, i want to apologize that i have another commitment. i didn't realize that this hearing would last as long as it has. and so i may have to depart before you're done with your testimony, if that happens, i apologize and i'll leave the hearing in your hands, mr. chairman. >> you have no alternative. thank you, senator blumenthal. gentleman and ma'am, thank you for joining us. we'll begin. i can't see the nametag, but i think it's mr. butler. please proceed. >> thank you, acting chairman moran. ranking member blumenthal and members of the committee. the american legion believes in a strong, robust veterans healthcare system designed to treat those who have worn the uniform. however, in the best of circumstances, there are situations where the system cannot meet the needs of the veteran. and the veteran must seek care