Veterans’ ACCESS Act of 2025

Bill Number

H.R. 740

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Armed Forces and National Security

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-07-23: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.

Last Updated

2026-06-12T13:43:11Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose of the Legislation

The Veterans' Assuring Critical Care Expansions to Support Servicemembers Act of 2025 (Veterans' ACCESS Act of 2025) aims to enhance access to health care for veterans through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) by improving the Veterans Community Care Program, which allows eligible veterans to receive care from non-VA providers when VA facilities cannot meet timely access standards. It also strengthens mental health treatment programs and introduces innovations in care delivery and oversight to ensure faster, more veteran-centered services.

Key Provisions

The bill is divided into three titles, focusing on community care improvements, mental health programs, and broader health care enhancements.

Title I: Improvement of Veterans Community Care Program

• Eligibility Standards (Sec. 101): Codifies specific access standards for community care eligibility, excluding nursing home care. Veterans qualify if VA cannot provide:
• Primary care, mental health care, or extended care within 30 minutes average driving time from home and 20 days of the request.
• Specialty care within 60 minutes driving time and 28 days of the request.
• Telehealth availability does not count toward meeting these standards. Canceled VA appointments reset wait times from the original request date. Agreements for longer drives or waits must be documented in the veteran's electronic health record.
• VA must review these standards every three years with input from federal agencies, veterans, service organizations, and providers, reporting findings to Congress.
• Notification of Eligibility (Sec. 102): VA must notify eligible veterans in writing (or electronically) within two business days of awareness of their need for care, with periodic reminders for ongoing eligibility.
• Consideration of Veteran Preferences (Sec. 103): When determining care options, VA must factor in the veteran's preferred location, timing, and method of care; continuity of treatment; and need for a caregiver or attendant.
• Denial Notifications (Sec. 104): If a care request is denied, VA must notify the veteran within two business days, explaining the reason (e.g., failure to meet access standards) and providing appeal instructions via VA's clinical appeals process (an internal review by medical experts).
• Telehealth Discussions (Sec. 105): VA staff must inform veterans of telehealth options (via VA or community providers) if available, appropriate for the care needed, and acceptable to the veteran.
• Claims Deadline Extension (Sec. 106): Extends the time health care providers have to submit claims for payment from 180 days to one year.

Title II: Mental Health Treatment Programs

• Definitions (Sec. 201): Defines key terms, including "covered treatment program" (VA residential programs for mental health and substance use disorders, excluding certain work therapy residences); "covered veteran" (eligible VA enrollees); "social support systems" (family or cohabitants, not peer programs); and "treatment track" (specialized subsets of care).
• Standardized Eligibility Process (Sec. 202): Requires VA to create a uniform screening process within one year to assess clinical need for priority or routine admission to residential mental health programs.
• Priority Admission Criteria: Includes severe symptoms affecting daily life, unsafe living conditions, suicide risk, overdose risks, or failure of prior treatments. VA must screen within 48 hours of request and admit priority cases within another 48 hours. Screen for traumatic brain injury as needed.
• Placement Considerations: Prioritizes veteran input on program type, treatment track, and location; maximizes proximity to family or support systems.
• Non-VA Care Options: If VA cannot admit timely, offer equivalent care at state-licensed, accredited non-VA facilities (with contracts). For routine cases, apply community care access standards.
• Program Improvements (Sec. 203): Enhances VA's Mental Health Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program with:
• Performance metrics for screening and admissions, tracked by facility and network.
• Oversight processes assessing evidence-based treatments, outcomes, staffing ratios, cultural training, and fraud prevention.
• Placement lists of available locations matching veteran needs; transportation coverage to/from programs.
• National appeals policy for denials or delays, with 72-hour review decisions and public guidance (clinical appeals only, not formal Board of Veterans' Appeals).
• Real-time tracking of bed availability and wait times, shared with VA staff.
• Updated staff training on processes (required within 60 days of hire and annually).
• Care coordination to prevent lapses, including plans for substance use cases and post-discharge follow-up shared with providers.
• Reports to Congress: Initial modifications report (within two years); annual operations reports (e.g., veteran numbers, wait times, costs, staffing); Comptroller General review of access (within two years).

Title III: Other Health Care Matters

• Online Self-Service Module (Sec. 301): VA must develop a plan (submitted within 180 days) for an interactive online tool, in partnership with third-party administrators (entities managing provider networks), allowing veterans to request appointments, track referrals, receive reminders, and appeal denials. Quarterly implementation updates for two years.
• Center for Innovation Modifications and Pilot (Sec. 302): Updates VA's Center for Innovation for Care and Payment to:
• Place it under the Secretary's office; mandate pilot programs; expand goals to include productivity and modernization.
• Require dedicated budget line item; broader authority to waive regulations.
• Involve more offices and stakeholders in evaluations; annual reports on center activities.
• Comptroller General report on center effectiveness (within 18 months).
• Pilot Program: Three-year initiative at least five sites allowing direct access (no referral needed) to outpatient mental health/substance use services via community providers. Prioritizes high-need areas (e.g., rural, high suicide/overdose rates). Includes care coordination, metrics for safety/outcomes, and annual reports assessing expansion feasibility.
• Additional Reports (Sec. 303):
• Triennial report on improving clinical appeals (timeliness, transparency, etc.), with stakeholder input.
• Annual report on community care usage (eligibility, opt-ins, timeliness, no-shows, appeals).

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Amends Title 38 U.S. Code (Sections 1703, 1703B, 1703D, 1703E, 1705) to make access standards permanent and more specific (e.g., fixed driving/wait times, excluding telehealth from eligibility calculations, resetting wait times for cancellations).
• Introduces mandatory notifications, preferences considerations, denial appeals, and telehealth discussions, previously discretionary or absent.
• Establishes new standardized mental health screening/admission processes, priority criteria, and non-VA care mandates, building on but expanding the STRONG Veterans Act of 2022.
• Enhances the Center for Innovation by requiring pilots, budget transparency, and broader waivers; extends provider claims window.
• Adds extensive reporting and oversight requirements, including real-time tracking and Comptroller General reviews, to increase accountability.

Potential Impacts

• Government Agencies: Increases VA administrative workload (e.g., notifications, screenings, training, reports) and costs for non-VA care/transportation, but promotes efficiency through online tools and pilots. May require more contracts with accredited providers and third-party administrators.
• Citizens (Veterans): Improves timely access to care, reduces wait times/barriers, enhances options (e.g., telehealth, preferences, appeals), and supports mental health crisis response, potentially leading to better health outcomes and fewer lapses in treatment.
• International Relations: No direct impact; focuses on domestic VA operations.
• Overall, could lower veteran suicide/overdose risks in high-need areas and standardize care nationwide, though implementation may strain VA resources initially.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Veterans: Primary beneficiaries, especially those with mental health/substance use needs, rural residents, or facing access delays.
• Department of Veterans Affairs: Must implement changes, including staff training, tracking systems, and expanded non-VA partnerships.
• Community and Non-VA Providers: Gain clearer eligibility rules, longer claims windows, and more referrals/contracts, but face new accreditation/oversight standards.
• Veterans Service Organizations: Involved in consultations, appeals guidance, and reporting; represent veterans in feedback.
• Congress and Oversight Bodies: Receive regular reports and reviews to monitor effectiveness.
• Families/Caregivers: Benefit from transportation, proximity considerations, and care plan sharing.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: Strengthens administrative due process for veterans via mandatory notifications, documented agreements, and clinical appeals, ensuring transparency without creating new formal rights (e.g., no Board of Veterans' Appeals access for admissions). Aligns with existing VA authority under Title 38 but expands waiver powers for innovation, potentially streamlining regulations while requiring privacy compliance (e.g., HIPAA, Privacy Act).
• Constitutional: No major issues; enhances equal protection/access for veterans as a protected class without infringing rights. Emphasizes veteran input, aligning with due process principles.
• Political: Bipartisan support evident from multiple sponsors; addresses veteran care as a priority, potentially reducing public criticism of VA wait times. Promotes fiscal accountability through budget lines and cost assessments, but may spark debates on funding non-VA care versus VA expansions.

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

Sponsor

Rep. Bost, Mike [R-IL-12]

Cosponsors (90)

Rep. Bergman, Jack [R-MI-1], Rep. Hamadeh, Abraham [R-AZ-8], Rep. Miller-Meeks, Mariannette [R-IA-1], Rep. Barrett, Tom [R-MI-7], Rep. Kiggans, Jennifer A. [R-VA-2], Del. King-Hinds, Kimberlyn [R-MP-At Large], Rep. Bilirakis, Gus M. [R-FL-12], Rep. Murphy, Gregory F. [R-NC-3], Rep. Van Orden, Derrick [R-WI-3], Rep. Franklin, Scott [R-FL-18], Rep. Biggs, Sheri [R-SC-3], Rep. Crenshaw, Dan [R-TX-2], Rep. Webster, Daniel [R-FL-11], Rep. Pfluger, August [R-TX-11], Rep. Luttrell, Morgan [R-TX-8], Rep. McDowell, Addison [R-NC-6], Rep. Haridopolos, Mike [R-FL-8], Del. Radewagen, Aumua Amata Coleman [R-AS-At Large], Rep. Begich, Nicholas [R-AK-At Large], Rep. Miller, Max L. [R-OH-7], Rep. Mace, Nancy [R-SC-1], Rep. Rutherford, John H. [R-FL-5], Rep. Tenney, Claudia [R-NY-24], Rep. Ciscomani, Juan [R-AZ-6], Rep. Moore, Tim [R-NC-14], Rep. Downing, Troy [R-MT-2], Rep. Stauber, Pete [R-MN-8], Rep. Baumgartner, Michael [R-WA-5], Rep. Fry, Russell [R-SC-7], Rep. Malliotakis, Nicole [R-NY-11], Rep. Kustoff, David [R-TN-8], Rep. Fischbach, Michelle [R-MN-7], Rep. Timmons, William R. [R-SC-4], Rep. James, John [R-MI-10], Rep. Amodei, Mark E. [R-NV-2], Rep. Lee, Laurel M. [R-FL-15], Rep. De La Cruz, Monica [R-TX-15], Rep. Messmer, Mark B. [R-IN-8], Rep. Fine, Randy [R-FL-6], Rep. Biggs, Andy [R-AZ-5], Rep. Finstad, Brad [R-MN-1], Rep. Strong, Dale W. [R-AL-5], Rep. Fallon, Pat [R-TX-4], Rep. Rulli, Michael A. [R-OH-6], Rep. Stutzman, Marlin A. [R-IN-3], Rep. Taylor, David J. [R-OH-2], Rep. Crank, Jeff [R-CO-5], Rep. Schmidt, Derek [R-KS-2], Rep. Nunn, Zachary [R-IA-3], Rep. Buchanan, Vern [R-FL-16] and 40 more

Recent Actions

• 2025-07-23: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
• 2025-07-23: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
• 2025-01-28: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
• 2025-01-28: Introduced in House
• 2025-01-28: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Veterans’ Assuring Critical Care Expansions to Support Servicemembers Act of 2025 — issued 2025-01-28 — PDF (48 pages)

Related Bills

• S. 275 (119th Congress)