VetPAC Act of 2025
The VetPAC Act of 2025 would create a new, independent policy advisory commission—the Veterans Health Administration Policy Advisory Commission (the Commission)—to systematically review how the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) operates and to deliver annual reports and recommendations to Congress. The Commission would be made up of 17 members appointed by the Comptroller General (GAO), with at least two veterans among them, and would focus on high-level issues such as IT and electronic health records, access and wait times, care quality, workforce, patient experience, training, procurement, construction, and how VHA care interacts with Medicare, Medicaid, TRICARE, and private plans. The Commission would have the authority to hire staff, conduct or fund research, request information from federal agencies, and issue annual reports by March 15 with recommendations that Congress may act on. Its operations would be funded separately from the GAO, and its members would be subject to public financial disclosure rules. Initial appointments would occur within 280 days after appropriations are first provided.
Key Points
- 1Establishment and composition of the Commission: 17 members appointed by the Comptroller General, with at least 2 veterans; members must have substantial expertise in managing or advising large medical systems and related fields (e.g., quality of care, staffing, information technology, AI in health care, supply chains, construction/engineering, research, managed care), with diverse experience reflecting veterans’ health care needs.
- 2Scope of review and topics: The Commission will review VHA operations and issue reports with recommendations on topics including IT infrastructure and electronic health records, referrals and coordination with the Veterans Community Care Program (section 1703), access and wait times, care quality, workforce issues, patient satisfaction, training and standards of care, long-term budget outlook, procurement of supplies, research, hospital construction/leasing/capital needs, and interactions with Medicare/Medicaid/TRICARE and private plans.
- 3Reporting and decision rules: The Commission must submit an annual report to Congress by March 15 that includes its findings and recommendations. A simple majority must vote to include any recommendation in the report.
- 4Authorities and data access: The Commission can hire staff (including an Executive Director), contract with others, obtain information from federal agencies, conduct or fund original research, and accept information submissions from interested parties. It can obtain nonproprietary information from federal agencies and must have access to necessary data within specified timelines.
- 5Administration, appointments, and support: Compensation for members, travel allowances, and personnel rules align with federal standards; detailed public financial disclosures are required; support agencies (GAO, CRS, CBO) must have access to the Commission’s deliberations and data; initial appointments must be made within 280 days after appropriations.