Critical Access for Veterans Care Act

This bill would let veterans in the Veterans Community Care Program get care at a critical access hospital or an affiliated rural health clinic if they live within 35 miles of it. This includes care from nearby community providers when the hospital or clinic makes the referral. The Department of Veterans Affairs could not require prior authorization or a referral for this care. VA payments to these hospitals and clinics would use Medicare's critical access hospital and rural health clinic rates, and claims would have to be reviewed and paid within 60 days. The VA would report to Congress within one year on how the changes are being carried out.

Full text and official record on Congress.gov

Sponsors

• Kevin Cramer Republican sponsor
• 2 cosponsors