Gov. Rick Perry and the leaders of five other states are asking President Barack Obama to issue federal vouchers to veterans allowing them to go outside Veterans Affairs to receive quicker care.
Veterans would receive a voucher if they're unable to get an appointment in the VA health system within 30 days.
Perry, joined by the governors of Florida, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine and Pennsylvania, also ask in a letter to Obama that state inspectors be allowed to review VA facilities and practices. The governors say state veterans' agencies can offer solutions to long wait times for veterans seeking care.
A federal investigation has revealed the average wait for veterans seeking an appointment at the VA facility in Phoenix was 115 days, and lengthy waits are being reported in other states.
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