Veteran Access to Neurosurgery Act of 2026

This bill would require the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to start a pilot program within one year that lets board-certified surgeons negotiate higher, market-based payment rates for providing neurosurgery to veterans through the Veterans Community Care Program. The program could run for five years in at least two VA regional networks with many veterans living in rural or highly rural areas. A rate adjustment would be given only if the surgeon shows it is needed, the standard rate does not cover costs, and no other VA neurosurgery is available to the veteran within a 60-day wait or 100 miles. The VA Inspector General would review the program each year, and the VA would report yearly to Congress on patients served, services, costs, and health outcomes.

Full text and official record on Congress.gov

Sponsors

• Bill Cassidy Republican sponsor
• 0 cosponsors