Local veteran's call for help to VA goes viral

WASHINGTON — A video posted by Salem Congressman Seth Moulton showing a staffer’s frustrating experience trying to set up a VA appointment is going viral and creating a bi-partisan push in Washington to change the way veterans schedule doctor visits.

Iraq war veteran Dennis Magnasco is seen on the video getting stuck in an automated cycle trying to set up an appointment at the VA facility in Bedford.

It’s been seen by millions and shared on social media by tens of thousands.

Congressman Moulton posted the clip on his Facebook page to highlight a bill he is pushing called the “Faster Care for Vets Act”.

“It’s not an extraordinary situation,” says Moulton, a Marine veteran. “It’s a real situation that veterans face every single day.”

The bill would allow veterans to use already existing technology to set up VA appointments through a mobile app. Moulton says the process needs to be fixed.

“It will allow veterans to make appointments right on their smart phones,” Moulton said. “Which is something that's available to people in the private sector today but not to patients of the VA.”

The bill is gaining bi-partisan support with nearly two dozen lawmakers signing on as co-sponsors after it hit the internet.

“It’s just common sense,” said co-sponsor Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA 5th). “We are committed. I’m committed.”

Veterans groups like the Iraq Afghanistan Veterans Association are also supporting the bill. Tom Porter, the group’s legislative director, says it fits into their top priority of reforming the VA health care system. The VA has been criticized for years over long wait times for veterans to receive health care.

“There’s technology out there right now, and I know there is because I use it, then it could bridge that gap.”

As for Magnasco, he never got his appointment set up the day of the phone call, but he did after the video went viral.

Cox Media Group