(Photo by Stina Sieg - KJZZ)

Phoenix VA hospital.

A bill designed to overhaul the Veterans Affairs health care system passed the Senate on Thursday afternoon on a 91-3 vote. The final step for the legislation is a presidential signature.

The VA bill easily passed both the house and senate this week, with strong bipartisan support.

Dr. Sam Foote is one of the initial VA employees to blow the whistle on alleged mismanagement. He said the bill is a good first step, but added there are some problems money can’t fix at the VA.

"Sometimes the money helps, but in the case of Phoenix where so many experienced people have gotten frustrated and left, throwing money at that problem is not going to solve it easily," said Foote.

The eight lawmakers who voted against it said they were concerned with how much the $16 billion legislation would grow the national budget deficit.   

President Barack Obama is expected to sign the measure into law.