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RURAL Veterans Act
12/29/2022, 11:03 PM
Summary of Bill HR 7414
One of the key provisions of the RURAL Veterans Act is the establishment of a pilot program that would provide grants to organizations that offer transportation services to veterans in rural communities. This program aims to address the issue of limited access to healthcare facilities for veterans who live far away from VA hospitals and clinics.
Additionally, the bill includes provisions to expand telehealth services for veterans in rural areas. This would allow veterans to receive medical care remotely, through video conferencing and other technology, without having to travel long distances to see a healthcare provider in person. The RURAL Veterans Act also seeks to improve mental health services for veterans in rural communities. The bill includes funding for programs that provide mental health counseling and support services to veterans who may be struggling with PTSD, depression, or other mental health issues. Overall, the RURAL Veterans Act aims to address the unique challenges that veterans in rural areas face when trying to access healthcare services. By providing funding for transportation services, expanding telehealth options, and improving mental health support, this bill seeks to ensure that all veterans, regardless of where they live, have access to the care and support they need.
Congressional Summary of HR 7414
Recruiting in Underserved Rural Areas and Localities for Veterans Act or the RURAL Veterans Act
This bill addresses the recruitment of Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care professionals in rural areas. Specifically, the bill requires the VA to establish the Office of Rural Recruitment to improve the recruitment of health care professionals for rural and highly rural community-based outpatient clinics and medical centers of the VA.
The bill also requires the director of each Veterans Integrated Service Network that contains at least one rural or highly rural community-based outpatient clinic to annually develop and maintain a strategy to recruit health care professionals.
The Office of Rural Recruitment shall conduct a study on the feasibility of a scholarship program for health care professionals to attend the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in exchange for service as full-time employees at a rural or highly rural community-based outpatient clinic or medical center of the VA for a specified period of time.
The VA shall establish the Rural Health Quality and Access Fellowship program to provide fellowships to health care professionals at the graduate or post-graduate level who serve on a short-term basis as full-time employees at a rural or highly rural community-based outpatient clinic or medical center of the VA and conduct research on (1) improving the quality of rural health care, (2) access to health care in rural areas, and (3) recruitment and retention of health care professionals in rural areas.
