What does CODIFICATION OF REQUIREMENTS FOR ELIGIBILITY STANDARDS FOR of Veterans’ Assuring Critical Care Expansions to Support Servicemembers (ACCESS) Act of 2025 do?

This section amends Section 1703B of Title 38, United States Code, to establish eligibility access standards for covered veterans to receive community care. For primary and mental health care, the Department must schedule appointments within a 30-minute average driving time (or shorter, as prescribed by the Secretary) and within 20 days (or shorter). For specialty care, the Department must schedule appointments within a 60-minute average driving time (or shorter) and within 28 days (or shorter). Telehealth appointments are not considered when determining if the Department can furnish care meeting these standards. Wait times are calculated from the date of the original, canceled appointment if the Department cancels an appointment. Agreements for longer drive times or later dates must be documented in the veteran’s electronic health record. The Secretary must review these access standards at least once every three years and submit a report to Congress. The Secretary must ensure these standards apply to all care and services within the medical benefits package to which a covered veteran is eligible.

What does REQUIREMENT THAT SECRETARY NOTIFY VETERANS OF ELIGIBILITY FOR of Veterans’ Assuring Critical Care Expansions to Support Servicemembers (ACCESS) Act of 2025 do?

This section amends Section 1703(a) of title 38, United States Code. The Secretary is required to notify covered veterans in writing of their eligibility for care or services under this section. Notifications must be provided within two business days of the Secretary's awareness that a veteran is seeking care and is eligible. The Secretary must provide periodic reminders to veterans eligible for care under subsection (d). Notifications and reminders may be provided electronically.

What does CONSIDERATION UNDER VETERANS COMMUNITY CARE PROGRAM OF of Veterans’ Assuring Critical Care Expansions to Support Servicemembers (ACCESS) Act of 2025 do?

This section amends Section 1703(d)(2) of title 38, United States Code. The amendment adds subparagraphs (F), (G), and (H) to consider veteran preferences for care. Subparagraph (F) requires consideration of a covered veteran's preference for where, when, and how to seek care. Subparagraph (G) requires consideration of continuity of care. Subparagraph (H) requires consideration of whether a veteran requests or requires caregiver or attendant assistance.

What does NOTIFICATION OF DENIAL OF REQUEST FOR CARE UNDER VETERANS of Veterans’ Assuring Critical Care Expansions to Support Servicemembers (ACCESS) Act of 2025 do?

This section amends title 38 of the United States Code, specifically section 1703. It redesignates existing subsection (o) as subsection (p). A new subsection (o) is added to section 1703, outlining notification requirements for denials of requests for care under the Veterans Community Care Program. If a veteran's request for care is denied, the Secretary must notify them in writing within two business days. The notification must include the reason for the denial and instructions on how to appeal using the Veterans Health Administration's clinical appeals process. If the denial is due to not meeting eligibility access standards under section 1703B(a), the notice must explain why the veteran did not meet those standards. Notifications under this subsection may be provided electronically.

What does DISCUSSION OF TELEHEALTH OPTIONS UNDER VETERANS COMMUNITY of Veterans’ Assuring Critical Care Expansions to Support Servicemembers (ACCESS) Act of 2025 do?

This section amends Title 38 of the United States Code, specifically section 1703. It redesignates subsection (p) as subsection (q) and inserts a new subsection (p). The new subsection (p) requires the Secretary to inform veterans of telehealth options when discussing care or services. Telehealth must be available, appropriate, and acceptable to the veteran to be considered.

What does EXTENSION OF DEADLINE FOR SUBMITTAL OF CLAIMS BY HEALTH CARE of Veterans’ Assuring Critical Care Expansions to Support Servicemembers (ACCESS) Act of 2025 do?

This section amends Section 1703D(b) of title 38, United States Code. The amendment changes the deadline for the submittal of claims by health care entities and providers under the prompt payment standard.

What does STANDARDIZED PROCESS TO DETERMINE ELIGIBILITY OF COVERED of Veterans’ Assuring Critical Care Expansions to Support Servicemembers (ACCESS) Act of 2025 do?

This section establishes a standardized screening process for covered veterans to determine eligibility for mental health treatment programs. Veterans eligible for priority admission may be identified based on criteria including significant impact on daily life, unsafe living situations, suicide risk factors, or lack of recovery from previous treatments. Screening must occur within 48 hours of a request, and priority admission, if determined, within another 48 hours. Placement decisions should consider the veteran's input regarding program specialty, geographic location, and proximity to social support. If the Department of Veterans Affairs cannot admit a veteran within the required timeframe, the Secretary must offer the option of care at a non-Department facility meeting specific licensing and accreditation standards. The standardized screening process is required not later than one year after the date of enactment of this Act.

What does IMPROVEMENTS TO DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS MENTAL HEALTH of Veterans’ Assuring Critical Care Expansions to Support Servicemembers (ACCESS) Act of 2025 do?

The Secretary of Veterans Affairs must develop metrics to track performance of medical facilities and Veterans Integrated Service Networks in meeting requirements for screening and admission to covered treatment programs. The Secretary shall develop a process for systematically assessing the quality of care delivered by Department and non-Department providers treating covered veterans. The Secretary shall provide transportation or pay for transportation for covered veterans admitted to a covered treatment program who need transportation assistance. A national policy and procedures for filing clinical appeals are to be developed for covered veterans or their representatives if admission to a covered treatment program is denied or not offered in a timely manner. The Secretary shall ensure continuity of care for covered veterans between screening and admission to a covered treatment program. The Secretary shall update guidance on the operation of covered treatment programs to reflect new requirements. The Comptroller General shall review access to care under covered treatment programs for covered veterans two years after enactment.

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Veterans’ Assuring Critical Care Expansions to Support Servicemembers (ACCESS) Act of 2025

Q: What does Preamble of Veterans’ Assuring Critical Care Expansions to Support Servicemembers (ACCESS) Act of 2025 do?

This bill aims to improve care and services under the Veterans Community Care Program The bill is related to the Department of Veterans Affairs The bill has other purposes beyond improving the Veterans Community Care Program

Q: What does DEFINITIONS. of Veterans’ Assuring Critical Care Expansions to Support Servicemembers (ACCESS) Act of 2025 do?

This section defines terms used within the title. A 'covered treatment program' includes mental health residential rehabilitation treatment programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs and programs for residential care for mental health and substance abuse disorders. Covered treatment programs include programs designated as domiciliary residential rehabilitation treatment programs as of the date of enactment and any programs designated thereafter, but excludes Compensated Work Therapy Transition Residence programs. A 'covered veteran' is defined as a veteran described in section 1703(b) of title 38, United States Code. ‘Social support systems’ for a covered veteran include family members or individuals living with the veteran, excluding facility-organized peer support programs. A 'treatment track' is a specialized treatment program provided to a subset of covered veterans in a covered treatment program who receive similar intensive treatment and rehabilitative services.

Last updated: 7/30/2025 · Introduced: 1/28/2025

Author: Jerry Moran (R-KS)

TL;DR (AI)

The bill establishes eligibility access standards for covered veterans to receive community care, requiring appointments for primary and mental health care within 20 days and 30-minute average driving time, and specialty care within 28 days and 60-minute average driving time.
The Secretary must notify covered veterans in writing of their eligibility for care or services and provide periodic reminders, and also notify them of denials of requests for care, including reasons for denial and appeal instructions.
The bill requires consideration of veteran preferences for care, including location, timing, and method, as well as continuity of care and caregiver assistance, and expands telehealth options by requiring the Secretary to inform veterans of available telehealth options.

119th Congressin committeeHR. 740(In Committee)Official page

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Other Sections

Includes provisions on preamble, codification of requirements for eligibility standards for, and 5 more.

7 sections

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TITLE II

-MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT PROGRAMS

3 sections

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TITLE III

-OTHER HEALTH CARE MATTERS

3 sections

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