Compromise reached on veterans’ health program

WASHINGTON (AP) – House and Senate negotiators have agreed on a compromise plan to fix a veterans’ health program scandalized by long patient wait times and falsified records. The chairmen of the House and Senate Veterans Affairs committees are expected today to unveil a plan to authorize billions in emergency spending to lease 27 new clinics, hire more doctors and nurses and make it easier for veterans who can’t get prompt appointments with VA doctors to obtain outside care. The deal must be approved by the full House and Senate.