Summary

Requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to make sure every VA medical facility forms a partnership with at least one medical facility in a rural area to improve rural veterans’ access to care. Partnerships may use telehealth, co-location/leasing, training, care coordination, emergency services (including transport), and other services; the Secretary may grant limited waivers, must brief Congress on implementation within 180 days, and must report on operations and performance biennially after an initial two-year report. Existing VA patient-serving facilities must comply or hold a waiver within three years of enactment; facilities opened after enactment have three years from first patient care to comply or obtain a waiver.

• Mandates that every VA medical facility establish a partnership with a rural medical facility to improve access for rural veterans.
• Partnerships may include telehealth, co-location/leasing, training, care coordination, and emergency services including transportation.
• Secretary of VA may grant waivers for up to five years; waivers are renewable after evaluation and require 48-hour congressional notice before taking effect.
• VA must provide a briefing on implementation plans within 180 days of enactment.
• VA must report on partnership operations and performance two years after enactment and then biennially, using specified metrics.
• Existing patient-serving VA facilities must comply or hold a waiver within three years of enactment; new facilities have three years from first patient care.
• Defines "rural" using USDA RUCA and references the statutory definition of "service-connected."
• Clarifies the partnership authority is separate from existing VA third-party authorities.
• No specific appropriation is included in the text provided; implementation will use VA administrative resources and any contracting arrangements with rural providers.