Dec 11, 2025
WASHINGTON — The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) applauds the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for taking decisive action to improve women veterans’ access to essential health services. VA’s new policy allowing women to schedule gynecology appointments directly, without first obtaining a referral, removes unnecessary primary care visits and extended wait times for women-specific medical needs. This bureaucratic hurdle has finally been eliminated through this common-sense decision. I extend my sincere gratitude to VA Secretary Doug Collins and his team for advancing this long-overdue change and for their commitment to strengthening care for the growing number of women who have served.
Recent VFW testimonies before Congress have highlighted persistent access challenges and the need for practical reforms just like this one. These testimonies reinforce the real-world experiences of women veterans across the country, experiences that make clear how important such streamlined processes can be.
As the first woman to lead the nation’s largest organization of combat veterans, and as a former Army Nurse who relies on VA for my own health care, I know firsthand how vital it is for women veterans to feel welcomed, respected and understood when they enter a VA facility. For VA to remain a truly veteran-centered health system, removing barriers and eliminating inefficiencies must remain a priority.
Women are the fastest-growing segment of the veteran population. By enabling women veterans to directly access the specialized care they need, the VA is not only enabling improved health outcomes but also reaffirming its commitment to treating every veteran with dignity, respect and urgency. The VFW looks forward to continued collaboration with Secretary Collins to identify additional hurdles and work together to eliminate them, strengthening access, expanding trust and ensuring that all veterans receive the timely, high-quality care they have earned.