VA Medical Center Facility Transparency Act

Bill Number

H.R. 6794

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Armed Forces and National Security

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2026-01-23: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Last Updated

2026-03-07T09:06:39Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose of the Legislation

The VA Medical Center Facility Transparency Act aims to increase transparency, accountability, and efficiency in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical centers by requiring timely appointment scheduling, regular reporting on facility performance, and restrictions on reassigning medical center directors. It focuses on improving access to care and oversight for veterans enrolled in VA health services.

Key Provisions

• Timely Appointment Scheduling (Section 2):
• Requires VA staff to schedule appointments for enrolled veterans during the initial phone call when requested, regardless of the appointment's future date.
• Applies only to "covered veterans," defined as those enrolled in the VA's patient system under section 1705(a) of title 38, U.S. Code.
• This provision takes effect 180 days after enactment and sunsets (ends) three years later.

• Facility Fact Sheets (Section 3):
• Mandates that each VA medical center director submit:
• Annual fact sheets: Covering statistics on veteran treatments, appointments, common illnesses, veteran satisfaction levels (including comparisons to other facilities), successes/achievements (e.g., improvements in access or care quality), special focuses (e.g., women's health, mental health, opioid prevention, homelessness), and ongoing deficiencies needing fixes.
• Quarterly fact sheets: Reporting average wait times for treatment at the facility.
• Fact sheets must be submitted to the VA Secretary, congressional Veterans' Affairs committees, and relevant members of Congress (e.g., senators and representatives for the facility's location).
• Submissions begin in the first full fiscal year starting 180 days after enactment, with annual sheets yearly and quarterly sheets every three months.
• Fact sheets must use a standardized format set by the Secretary and be publicly available in physical form at the facility and online on its website.
• "State" includes U.S. states, D.C., Puerto Rico, and territories.

• Limits on Director Reassignments (Section 4):
• Requires the VA Secretary to notify congressional Veterans' Affairs committees within 90 days of reassigning ("detailing") a medical center director to another VA position, including details like location, job title, expected absence duration.
• An acting director with full authority must be appointed within 120 days of the reassignment.
• The Secretary must provide status updates to committees every 30 days during the reassignment or if the position remains vacant.
• Unless due to an investigation or administrative action, the director must return to their post or be permanently reassigned (with hiring process started) within 180 days.
• Waivers for extensions are allowed in 90-day increments up to 540 days total, but require congressional notification within 30 days explaining the need.

• Overall Sunset (Section 5):
• All requirements end three years after enactment.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Amends Chapter 17 of title 38, U.S. Code (governing VA health care management) by adding a new section 1706A on appointment scheduling and redesignating the existing section 1706A as 1706B.
• Introduces new reporting mandates and reassignment limits not previously specified in VA law, updating the table of contents for Chapter 17 accordingly.
• These are temporary additions, as they sunset after three years, providing a trial period without permanent codification.

Potential Impacts

• On Government Agencies: Increases administrative workload for VA medical centers (e.g., data collection, fact sheet preparation) and the Secretary's office (e.g., standardizing formats, notifications). Enhances congressional oversight through required reports and updates, potentially leading to better resource allocation and performance monitoring.
• On Citizens: Primarily benefits enrolled veterans by promoting faster appointment scheduling and providing accessible information on wait times, satisfaction, and facility strengths/weaknesses, which could improve care access and choice. No direct impact on non-veterans.
• On International Relations: None apparent; the bill is domestic and focused on U.S. veterans' health care.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• VA Medical Center Directors and Staff: Responsible for submitting fact sheets and managing scheduling; face limits on reassignments.
• VA Secretary and Department: Oversees compliance, standardization, notifications, and acting appointments.
• Enrolled Veterans: Gain from timely scheduling and transparent facility data to inform care decisions.
• Congressional Committees and Members: Receive reports for oversight, particularly the House and Senate Veterans' Affairs Committees and representatives from affected districts/states.
• VA Facilities Overall: Subject to public reporting, which could influence funding, improvements, or scrutiny.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: Strengthens VA accountability under existing health care statutes (title 38, U.S. Code) without altering core eligibility or funding laws. The sunset clause allows evaluation before permanence, reducing risk of unintended burdens. Waivers for director reassignments provide flexibility while ensuring transparency.
• Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's authority to regulate federal agencies (e.g., via appropriations and oversight powers under Article I). No apparent conflicts with due process or free speech, as it focuses on internal VA operations.
• Political: Promotes bipartisan oversight of VA performance, potentially addressing veteran complaints about wait times and access (a recurring issue). Temporary nature may encourage future extensions based on results, fostering debate on VA efficiency without long-term commitments. Introduced by representatives from Arizona and Nevada, it targets regional concerns but applies nationally.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Hamadeh, Abraham J. [R-AZ-8]

Cosponsors (1)

Rep. Lee, Susie [D-NV-3]

Recent Actions

• 2026-01-23: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
• 2025-12-17: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
• 2025-12-17: Introduced in House
• 2025-12-17: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• VA Medical Center Facility Transparency Act — issued 2025-12-17 — PDF (10 pages)