VA gives financial boost to veterans

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has announced on Friday the availability of $7 million in grants for organizations providing transportation services to rural veterans, in a move that should improve their access to health care and other services.

Why It Matters

There are 4.7 million so-called rural and highly rural veterans across the nation, according to VA data. The department’s Office of Rural Health (ORH) estimates that 2.8 million of these veterans are enrolled in and rely on the VA’s health care system—which makes it challenging in terns of getting access these crucial services.

Veterans living in rural parts of the country often have less access to health care services than those living in urban and suburban contexts, a situation which can lead to poor long-term health outcomes. One example made by the VA is that of Hollis, Arkansas: a veteran living here would have to travel more than 1,000 miles to reach the nearest VA medical facility.

What To Know

The $7 million funding announced by the VA would be available to Veteran Service Organizations (VSO) and State Veterans Service Agencies providing veterans transportation services to and from VA or VA-authorized health care appointments.

The funds would be available through the Highly Rural Transportation Grants program, which provides transportation for veterans in counties with fewer than seven people per square mile. Veterans living in these areas can participate in the program at no cost.

The money goes to addressing a significant issue when it comes to the veteran community, 24 percent of which, approximately, live in rural areas of the country. While enrollment into the VHA health care, according to the department, is higher among these veterans (48 percent) than their urban peers (41 percent), it still involves only half of the rural veteran population.

Despite recent efforts by the VA to expand access to health care to this vulnerable group, “significant gaps remain, particularly for those who face multiple barriers to care and services,” a nationwide study published in the National Library of Medicine last year found.

What People Are Saying

VA Secretary Doug Collins said in the announcement: “Improving health care access for rural Veterans is vital. These grants will help break down the geographic barriers to health care some rural Veterans face.”

What Happens Next

Interested VSOs and eligible agencies wanting to receive funding can apply on grants.gov by May 5, 2026. A list of organizations which can apply for the grants is available here.