HR 4063119th CongressIn Committee

Veterans Full-Service Care and Access Act of 2025

Introduced: Jun 20, 2025

HealthcareVeterans Affairs

Standard Summary

Comprehensive overview in 1-2 paragraphs

The Veterans Full-Service Care and Access Act of 2025 would require the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to guarantee that veterans in each of the 48 contiguous states have access to at least one full-service hospital within the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) in their state, or, if a VHA hospital is not available, receive comparable hospital services through contracts with other health care providers in the state. The bill creates a new statutory section (Sec. 1716A) to codify this access standard and includes a rule allowing enhanced care in a VHA hospital located in another state if needed. It also adjusts related provisions in the Veterans Community Care Program and requires a Congress-wide implementation report within one year of enactment describing compliance and the impact on care quality and standards. In addition, the act requires a clerical update to reference the enactment date for the relevant Community Care provision and adds a one-year reporting deadline to evaluate how well the new access requirement is being implemented and whether it improves care quality for veterans.

Key Points

1Establishes a new requirement (Sec. 1716A) that each of the 48 contiguous states must ensure eligible veterans receive hospital care and medical services at not fewer than one full-service VHA hospital within the state’s geographic boundaries.
2If a state does not provide a full-service VHA hospital, the bill permits the provision of comparable services through contracts with other health care providers located in the state (via the Veterans Community Care Program).
3Includes a rule of construction allowing enhanced care for a veteran who resides in one state to be treated in a VHA hospital in another state if appropriate.
4Amends the Veterans Community Care Program by updating a cross-reference to reflect the enactment of this bill.
5Requires a report to Congress within one year after enactment detailing implementation progress, compliance with Sec. 1716A, and the effect on care quality and standards.

Impact Areas

Primary group/area affected: Veterans residing in the 48 contiguous states, by ensuring access to at least one full-service VHA hospital in their state or equivalent contracted care.Secondary group/area affected: VA health care system operations, including the availability and expansion/integration of full-service VHA facilities, and the use of contracted care under the Veterans Community Care Program.Additional impacts: Potential implications for state health care markets, VA budgeting and resource allocation, facility planning or expansion requirements, cross-border care considerations, licensure and accreditation logistics, and a one-year implementation reporting requirement to Congress on outcomes and care quality. Alaska and Hawaii are explicitly outside the new statutory access requirement.

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