Sponsors (4)
The bill expands veterans' access to local primary care with predictable VHSA funding and tests DPC models, but risks fragmented care for those with complex needs, shifts VA resources, and adds administrative burdens.
Veterans can obtain primary care from local non-VA clinicians paid through Veteran Health Savings Accounts (VHSAs), increasing access to and choice of primary care providers.
Veterans enrolled in the pilot receive actuarially determined annual VHSA deposits that can cover periodic primary care fees, screenings, treatments, and drugs, reducing out-of-pocket costs and making routine care more predictable.
The VA Center for Innovation can test direct primary care (DPC) models through this pilot, potentially speeding innovation in VA care delivery and informing future VA reforms.
Veterans who enroll cannot receive the same VA-provided primary care services while participating, which may limit access to specialized VA services they rely on.
Veterans with complex or specialty care needs may face fragmented care because non-VA DPC arrangements may not cover complex specialty or integrated VA services.
VA beneficiaries and the Veterans Health Administration could see resources shifted because VHSA deposits are funded from existing VHA resources, potentially reducing funds available for other VA services.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Creates a five-year VA pilot to let enrolled veterans use VSHAs to pay non-VA direct primary care providers, with VA deposits and reporting requirements.
Official title: To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a pilot program to provide veteran health savings accounts to allow veterans to receive primary care furnished under non-Department direct primary care service arrangements, and for other purposes.
Introduced February 4, 2025 by Charles Roy · Last progress February 4, 2025
Creates a VA five-year pilot program that lets enrolled veterans choose primary care from non-VA direct primary care (DPC) providers paid through a Veteran Health Savings Account (VHSA). The VA will deposit annual amounts into VHSAs while veterans participate, set fraud-prevention rules, and report on implementation and results; the pilot begins one year after enactment and VA deposit authority ends five years after enactment.