To direct the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to improve the availability of care for veterans at facilities of the Department of Defense.
- Sponsor
- Rep. Schmidt, Derek [R-KS-2]
- Committees
- Veterans' Affairs Committee (primary)
- Last action
- Dec 18, 2025
Bottom line
The bill aims to leverage underutilized DoD medical resources to expand healthcare options and improve care coordination for veterans, while establishing oversight and accountability measures.
What it actually does
This bill directs the Secretaries of Defense and Veterans Affairs to develop and implement action plans to improve healthcare access for enrolled veterans by increasing resource sharing and utilization of Department of Defense (DoD) medical facilities with excess capacity. It mandates specific components for these plans, including cross-credentialing of providers, improved communication, IT integration, and robust patient safety and complaint mechanisms, with a sunset date of September 30, 2028.
Proponents argue
Supporters argue that this bill will efficiently utilize existing federal healthcare infrastructure, reducing wait times and improving access to specialized care for veterans, particularly in areas where DoD facilities have excess capacity. They contend that better integration between DoD and VA healthcare systems will lead to more seamless care transitions and a higher quality of service for those who have served.
Opponents contend
Critics might raise concerns about the potential for increased administrative burden on both DoD and VA, the complexity of integrating disparate IT systems, and the challenges of ensuring consistent care quality and accountability across two distinct departmental cultures. Some may also question whether the sunset clause allows enough time for effective implementation and evaluation of the program's long-term success.
The bill is concise and clearly structured, making it accessible for an informed reader to understand its core provisions within a reasonable timeframe.
Section 1(a)
Establishment of Joint DoD-VA Action Plans
This provision mandates that the Department of Defense (DoD) and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) create detailed plans to enhance healthcare services for veterans. These plans are designed to increase resource sharing between the two departments, utilize DoD medical facilities that have extra space or capacity, and improve communication and coordination to better serve enrolled veterans. The goal is to make it easier for veterans to access care, especially in areas where military hospitals can accommodate more patients.
Supporters argue
Supporters argue that these action plans are a pragmatic solution to address veteran healthcare access issues by leveraging existing federal assets. They believe that formalizing resource sharing and coordination will lead to greater efficiency and better outcomes for veterans without requiring significant new infrastructure investments.
Critics contend
Critics might contend that while the intent is good, the administrative overhead of developing, approving, and implementing these detailed plans across numerous facilities could be substantial and divert resources from direct patient care. They may also worry about the practical challenges of integrating two large, distinct healthcare systems.
Tradeoffs
The bill seeks to balance the need for increased veteran access to care with the operational realities and distinct missions of the DoD and VA healthcare systems. It aims for efficiency but introduces new layers of coordination and oversight.
Section 1(d)
Enhanced Patient Safety and Complaint Process
This provision establishes a secure and confidential system for veterans to report concerns about the care they receive under the new action plans. It requires both the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs to maintain detailed records of all complaints, adverse events, and safety incidents, which must be jointly reviewed quarterly. Allegations of abuse or misconduct are to be promptly referred to the respective Inspector Generals, and the VA Secretary can temporarily suspend referrals to a facility or provider during an investigation to protect veterans.
Section 1(h)
Program Termination Date
This provision specifies that the entire section of the bill, which establishes the joint action plans and related requirements for improving veteran care at DoD facilities, will terminate on September 30, 2028. This means the program is designed to be temporary, with a defined end date, unless Congress acts to extend or make it permanent.
This clause clarifies that veterans cannot be required to seek care at a Department of Defense (DoD) facility under this program, nor will the use of DoD facilities count towards determining a veteran's eligibility for care from a non-Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provider under existing VA access standards (section 1703B of title 38).
Section 1(g)
Why it matters:This is standard legislative practice for clarifying the scope and limitations of a bill's effects, preventing unintended interpretations or conflicts with existing law.
Case for: Supporters would argue this provision is crucial for protecting veteran choice and ensuring that the new program doesn't inadvertently restrict veterans' existing options for private care if VA facilities are too far or wait times are too long. It maintains the integrity of the VA's community care program.
Case against: No direct opposition; however, some might argue that if DoD facilities are significantly underutilized, encouraging their use more strongly could be beneficial, and this clause might limit that flexibility.
Estimated impact: Prevents a potential negative impact on veteran choice and maintains the current framework for VA community care eligibility, affecting potentially thousands of veterans who rely on non-VA care.