VA Health Care Capacity Assessment Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 9446
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Armed Forces and National Security
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-06-24: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
- Last Updated
- 2026-07-07T16:19:46Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose This legislation directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to submit regular reports assessing staffing levels at Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical facilities. Its goal is to evaluate whether facilities have adequate staff and resources to provide timely care to veterans.
Key Provisions
- The bill requires the first report within 180 days of enactment, followed by submissions every two years on December 31 of even-numbered years, sent to the Senate and House Committees on Veterans' Affairs.
- Each report must cover a system-wide assessment of all VA medical facilities, checking for appropriate staffing of health care professionals and support staff, suitable panel sizes, full-time equivalents for direct patient care, and sufficient physical space.
- Reports must include a plan with timelines to fix any identified issues.
- They must list current wait times and workload levels for clinics such as mental health, primary care, gastroenterology, and women's health.
- Reports must describe the most recent Inspector General determination on staffing shortages and outline use of direct appointment authority to address them, including ways to speed up credentialing.
- They must detail current staffing models for key clinics with recommendations for changes.
- Reports must analyze succession planning, including counts of unfilled positions, how long they have remained vacant or filled by temporary staff, barriers to hiring, and plans for long-term vacancies or emergencies.
- They must track the number of health care providers who left positions in the prior two years (by type) and break down how many were reassigned, departed permanently, or were later rehired.
Significant Changes to Existing Law This bill creates new ongoing reporting requirements for the VA. It references but does not amend existing provisions in title 38 of the U.S. Code regarding staffing shortage determinations and appointment authority. No other laws are altered.
Potential Impacts
- On government agencies: The VA must conduct detailed assessments and develop improvement plans, increasing administrative workload.
- On citizens: Veterans may benefit from better-informed decisions on staffing that could improve access to care, though the bill itself does not change services.
- On international relations: None identified.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- The Department of Veterans Affairs and its medical facilities.
- Veterans who use VA health care.
- VA health care providers and support staff.
- Congressional committees overseeing veterans' affairs.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications The bill enhances congressional oversight of VA operations through mandatory reporting but introduces no new legal authorities or constitutional concerns. It focuses on administrative transparency regarding staffing without altering rights or obligations for individuals.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Recent Actions
- 2026-06-24: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
- 2026-06-24: Introduced in House
- 2026-06-24: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- VA Health Care Capacity Assessment Act — issued 2026-06-24 — PDF (5 pages)