Sponsors (7)
The bill improves continuity and reduces care disruptions for veterans (especially those with chronic conditions) by requiring the VA to consider continuity when referring to community providers, but it may reduce referral flexibility in provider-scarce areas and raise administrative costs.
Veterans — especially those with chronic conditions — will get more continuous, coordinated care and fewer care disruptions because the VA must consider continuity of care when referring to community providers.
Veterans in rural or provider-scarce areas may face delays or reduced access because prioritizing continuity of care could limit the VA's referral options.
Taxpayers and veterans may incur higher program costs and slower processing because additional administrative work to track and ensure continuity increases burdens on the VA and community providers.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Requires the VA to consider "continuity of care" when administering the Veterans Community Care Program.
Adds “continuity of care” to the list of factors the Secretary of Veterans Affairs must consider when administering the Veterans Community Care Program. The amendment changes the statutory decision-making criteria the VA uses to approve or manage community care for veterans, though the bill text does not include the new subparagraph’s detailed language.
Introduced February 12, 2025 by Thomas Hawley Tuberville · Last progress February 12, 2025