Senior U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs officials and multiple veterans service organizations testified before the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs on Wednesday to discuss the progress of the Choice Program.

The program was rolled out in November as part of the Veterans Access, Choice and Accountability Act of 2014. It allows veterans to seek outside care if they live more than 40 miles away from a VA facility or if they’ve waited too long for an appointment.

Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America was one of the organizations that testified. Spokesman Christopher Neiweem said while the VA has improved efforts to alert veterans of their eligibility, Congress should extend the parameters of that 40-mile rule.

"Congress should aid in the department’s implementation efforts by clarifying in law that the 40 mile criteria must relate specifically to the VA facility in which the needed medical care will be provided," he said.

David McIntyre, president of the TriWest Healthcare Alliance, also testified. He asked the committee to consider more flexibility in outside care authorization. He said requiring providers to check in every 60 days is overly burdensome.

"So if you’re a person who has cancer, you’re probably getting care for more than 60 days," said McIntyre. "If you’re a person who is pregnant, if you’re a person who is going through radiation oncology you’re probably getting care for more than 60 days, and I could go on and on as a non-clinician."

VA officials also asked for more flexibility in using choice program funds to help cover other VA programs, but committee members maintained that wasn’t what it was designed for.