The Butler VA Health Care System has been training its employees this month on how to prepare for changes that will soon arrive as a result of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs launching its new Community Care Program.

The program, which goes into effect June 6, implements sections of the VA Maintaining Internal Systems and Strengthening Integrated Outside Networks Act — also known as the MISSION Act — of 2018.

The law aims to improve veteran access to VA health care by addressing in-network and non-VA health care issues, prescription drug procedures and criteria regarding wait times for VA appointments and the distance from a patient’s home to a VA facility.

Robert Kling, the MISSION Act champion for the VA Butler Healthcare, said the act replaces outdated community care programs, consolidates those that are still useful for local veterans and provides “clear communication for the veteran and for the providers as to what they need to do for the veteran to receive care.”

If MISSION Act delivers as promised, this is great news.

Veterans nationwide have long complained of difficulties in accessing medical care or long wait times to receive care. So, anything to give them easier access to health care options is a good thing.

The statistics that veterans face are daunting. According to the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans, as many as 40,000 veterans could be homeless nationwide on any given night.

U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan of Ohio — whose bill with Rep. Conor Lamb to address veterans’ mental health and wellness was recently passed in the House — said that as many as 20 veterans commit suicide each day.

Statistics from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs show that 11 to 20 veterans out of every 100 who served in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and at least two out of every 10 veterans with PTSD have substance abuse issues.

Other common health problems among veterans include depression, mental health issues, chronic pain, amputations and exposure to hazardous chemicals.

In other words, the men and women who put their lives on the line to keep our nation safe face serious health issues of varying sorts, both abroad and at home.

Under the new Community Care Program, veterans will be able to work with their VA health care provider to determine if they are eligible for community-based care. Veterans could still opt to continue receiving care from their local VA.

Regardless of which choice they make, it’s a good thing that their options have expanded. The VA Butler Healthcare system has been reaching out to local veterans through town halls, outpatient clinics and online to notify them about the changes.

“I think the biggest thing is that it will be clearer to the veteran population on what the options are to receive care,” said Jon Lasell, a veteran and director of VA Butler Healthcare.

That’s a MISSION we can get behind and we must monitor to ensure that it delivers as promised.