Sponsors
The bill improves continuity and timeliness of care for veterans transitioning from DoD to VA by allowing continued use of DoD providers, priority access, and record transfer, but it shifts costs and administrative burdens onto the VA/DoD system and may create appointment competition and potential disruptions to therapeutic relationships.
Veterans transitioning from DoD to VA care can keep their DoD mental-health provider during the transition, preserving therapeutic continuity and reducing care disruption.
Transitioning veterans and other covered individuals receive the same scheduling priority at military medical treatment facilities (MTFs) as active service members, reducing wait times and improving timely access to care during transition.
DoD treatment records for covered individuals must be transferred into the VA electronic medical record, improving information continuity and enabling VA providers to deliver faster, better-informed care.
Requiring the VA to reimburse DoD for care shifts additional costs onto the VA budget, potentially reducing funding available for other VA services and programs that benefit veterans.
Giving transitioning veterans priority access at MTFs may increase competition for appointments and resources with active-duty beneficiaries, potentially lengthening waits or reducing availability for service members and their families.
If a DoD provider departs or a veteran relocates, the transition away from a familiar DoD provider to a VA provider can still disrupt ongoing therapeutic relationships and continuity of care.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Permits people with diagnosed mental health conditions transitioning from DoD to VA enrollment to continue care with their DoD mental health provider during transition; VA reimburses DoD and receives records.
Introduced September 26, 2025 by Shri Thanedar · Last progress September 26, 2025
Allows individuals diagnosed with a mental health condition who are enrolling in or already enrolled in VA and who are transitioning from Department of Defense (DoD) care to keep receiving treatment from their DoD mental health provider during the transition to VA care. The VA must reimburse the DoD for those services and ensure medical records from DoD providers are transferred into the VA electronic medical record; patients can choose another DoD provider at the same facility or a VA provider if their DoD provider leaves or they relocate and cannot reasonably access the DoD facility.