Improving Access to Care for Rural Veterans Act

This bill would require every Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical facility to form a partnership with a medical facility in a rural area. Partnerships could cover telehealth, shared space or equipment, training, care coordination, emergency services including transportation, or other services. The VA Secretary could waive the requirement for a facility for up to five years by notifying Congress at least 48 hours in advance, and could renew a waiver after evaluating the need. Existing VA facilities would have three years to comply or receive a waiver, and new facilities would have three years after they first see patients. The Secretary would brief Congress on implementation within 180 days and report on the partnerships every two years.

Full text and official record on Congress.gov

Sponsors

• Tammy Duckworth Democrat sponsor
• 1 cosponsors