Veterans Health Care Freedom Act
2/15/2025, 9:07 AMSummary of Bill HR 71
Bill 119 HR 71, also known as the Veterans Access to Care Act, aims to improve veterans' access to medical care by implementing a pilot program within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The program will allow veterans to choose their healthcare providers, both within VA medical facilities and in the community.The goal of this bill is to address the challenges that many veterans face in accessing timely and quality healthcare services. By giving veterans the ability to choose their healthcare providers, the VA hopes to increase convenience and flexibility in receiving medical care.
The pilot program will be implemented by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and will be carefully monitored to assess its effectiveness in improving veterans' access to care. The bill emphasizes the importance of ensuring that veterans have timely access to the medical services they need, whether within VA facilities or through community providers. Overall, the Veterans Access to Care Act seeks to enhance the healthcare options available to veterans and improve their overall experience in accessing medical care. This bill reflects a bipartisan effort to address the needs of our nation's veterans and ensure they receive the quality healthcare they deserve.
Congressional Summary of HR 71
Veterans Health Care Freedom Act
This bill requires the Center for Innovation for Care and Payment within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to implement a three-year pilot program to improve the ability of veterans who are enrolled in the VA health care system to access hospital care, medical services, and extended care services through the covered care system by providing such veterans with the ability to choose health care providers. Under the bill, the covered care system includes VA medical facilities, health care providers participating in the Veterans Community Care Program (VCCP), and eligible entities or providers that have entered into a Veterans Care Agreement.
A veteran participating in the program may elect to receive care at any provider in the covered care system.
The pilot program removes certain requirements (e.g., location of the veteran) to access care at VA and non-VA facilities. After four years, the bill permanently phases out the requirements for accessing care under the VCCP and Veterans Care Agreements and requires the VA to provide such care under the same conditions of the pilot program. Additionally, after four years, veterans may receive care at a VA medical facility regardless of whether the facility is in the same Veterans Integrated Service Network as the veteran.
