After Six Weeks, A Deal On VA Health Care

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 will today unveil a plan expected 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.

An agreement reached Sunday by Republican Rep. Jeff Miller of Florida and independent Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont comes nearly seven weeks after the House and Senate approved separate bills on veterans health care.

The deal still must be approved by the full House and Senate.

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