Sponsors (4)
The bill speeds access to services and equipment for veterans and disabled beneficiaries by allowing NPs/PAs to order within State scope-of-practice while preserving state regulatory authority, but it risks uneven access across states and adds federal regulatory power and modest administrative burdens.
Veterans, survivors, and people with disabilities can get covered services and durable medical equipment faster because nurse practitioners and physician assistants (within State scope-of-practice) may order those items, reducing delays to care.
Preserves State legal authority by requiring practitioners to act within each State’s scope-of-practice, maintaining state-level professional standards and local regulatory control.
Access and quality may become inconsistent across states because scope-of-practice laws vary, producing geographic inequities for veterans and other beneficiaries.
Gives the President authority to issue regulations or instructions for clinical ordering, which could centralize control, add federal administrative steps, and create implementation delays or uncertainty.
Providers and health systems will face modest administrative costs to update policies and train staff to comply with the new ordering authority, imposing time and expense on clinics and hospitals.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Allows NPs and PAs, within their State scope of practice and subject to Presidential regulations, to order covered medical services, appliances, and supplies for eligible energy employee beneficiaries.
Expands who can order medical services, appliances, and supplies for beneficiaries of the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program by allowing nurse practitioners and physician assistants to prescribe or recommend covered items when acting within their State scope of practice and following Presidential regulations or instructions. The change defers to State scope-of-practice rules and adds a federal rulemaking/administrative compliance condition, but does not create new funding or deadlines.
Introduced June 25, 2025 by Rick W. Allen · Last progress June 25, 2025