KANSAS CITY, Mo. - On behalf of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, I would like to take the opportunity to publicly thank Dr. Richard Stone for the outstanding job he has done leading the Veterans Health Administration as Acting Under Secretary for Health. For the past three years, Dr. Stone has dedicated himself to upholding our nation’s commitment to providing an exemplary level of care for more than 9 million of America’s veterans.
His work implementing the VA MISSION ACT greatly enhanced health care options and comprehensive assistance for veterans and their caregivers. Along with the expansion of telehealth programs such Project ATLAS, Dr. Stone helped to bring VA health care into the new era, reaching more veterans than VA ever has before.
We are particularly grateful for Dr. Stone’s leadership through one of the most devastating public health emergencies in recent history. During COVID-19, Dr. Stone not only continued to deliver safe, quality care to America's veterans, he was also called upon to enact VA’s “Fourth Mission" to assist health care providers in 46 states and four U.S. territories. From the exceptional performance of VA hospitals and clinics in their delivery of care, to providing personal protective equipment and COVID-19 testing, to the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines across the country, VHA provided invaluable, life-saving services not only to those who have served their nation, but also to the nation itself.
We thank Dr. Stone for his leadership in these unprecedented times, we wish him all the best in his future endeavors and look forward to fostering a close relationship with his successor, working to provide veterans the care they deserve.