Veterans Health Care Freedom Act
Veterans Health Care Freedom Act
Plain Language Summary
# Veterans Health Care Freedom Act Summary **What the Bill Does** This bill would create a three-year pilot program allowing veterans enrolled in VA health care to choose from a wider range of providers—including VA medical facilities, community health care providers, and other eligible providers. Currently, veterans must meet certain requirements (like living near a VA facility) to access care outside the VA system. The bill would remove these restrictions during the pilot period, giving veterans more flexibility in selecting where they receive care. **Who It Affects & Key Provisions** The bill directly affects veterans enrolled in the VA health care system.
Key changes include: eliminating location-based requirements that currently limit veterans' access to non-VA providers, expanding the network of providers veterans can choose from, and making the expanded access permanent after the pilot period ends (four years). The pilot program would be managed by the VA's Center for Innovation for Care and Payment. **Current Status** The bill (S 219) is currently in committee in the 119th Congress, meaning it hasn't yet been debated or voted on by the full Senate. It was introduced by Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) and remains in the early stages of the legislative process.
CRS Official Summary
Veterans Health Care Freedom ActThis bill requires the Center for Innovation for Care and Payment within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to implement a three-year pilot program to provide veterans who are enrolled in the VA health care system with the ability to choose health care providers through the covered care system. Under the bill, the covered care system includes VA medical facilities, health care providers participating in the Veterans Community Care Program (VCCP), and eligible entities or providers that have entered into a Veterans Care Agreement.A veteran participating in the program may elect to receive care at any provider in the covered care system.The pilot program removes certain requirements (e.g., location of the veteran) to access care at VA and non-VA facilities. After four years, the bill permanently phases out the requirements for accessing care under the VCCP and Veterans Care Agreements and requires the VA to provide such care under the same conditions of the pilot program. Additionally, after four years, veterans may receive care at a VA medical facility regardless of whether the facility is in the same Veterans Integrated Service Network as the veteran.
Latest Action
Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held.