HR71119th CongressWALLET

Veterans Health Care Freedom Act

Sponsored By: Representative Biggs (AZ)

In Committee

Summary

Expands veterans' ability to choose health providers. This bill would create a three-year VA pilot that lets enrolled veterans pick any provider inside a defined covered care system and would phase many of those expanded choices into law after four years.

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  • Veterans: Eligible veterans would pick a primary care provider inside the covered care system who coordinates hospital, medical, and extended care and may refer them to specialty or mental health providers as needed.
  • Administration and oversight: The pilot is run by the VA's Center for Innovation for Care and Payment in at least four geographically diverse Veterans Integrated Service Networks and requires quarterly reports in the first two years and annual reports after that. The VA must carry out the pilot with amounts otherwise available; no new appropriations are authorized.
  • Network and access rules: Beginning four years after enactment, certain statutory restrictions on community care and Veterans Care Agreements would be phased out and veterans could receive care at VA facilities regardless of VISN boundaries when allowed by the new framework.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Permanent cross‑VISN and provider choice

If enacted, starting four years after enactment the VA would have to let veterans covered under chapter 17 get hospital, medical, and extended care at any VA facility, even if it is in another VISN. The VA would also apply the pilot's provider-choice rules to community care and Veterans Care Agreements and would not have to follow certain statutory limits when furnishing such care. These changes would expand where covered veterans can receive VA and community care.

VA pilot to expand provider choice

If enacted, the VA would run a three-year pilot starting one year after enactment. Enrolled veterans in selected VA regions could opt in. You could choose hospital, medical, extended, mental health, and specialty providers inside a defined covered care system. You would pick a primary care provider to coordinate care and referrals. The VA could use non-VA facilities and waive some rules for the pilot. The VA must report to Congress and use existing Veterans Health Administration funds (no new money authorized).

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Biggs (AZ)

AZ • R

Cosponsors

  • Crane

    AZ • R

    Sponsored 1/3/2025

  • Webster (FL)

    FL • R

    Sponsored 1/3/2025

  • Salazar

    FL • R

    Sponsored 1/3/2025

  • Gosar

    AZ • R

    Sponsored 1/3/2025

  • Luna

    FL • R

    Sponsored 1/3/2025

  • Brecheen

    OK • R

    Sponsored 1/3/2025

  • Buchanan

    FL • R

    Sponsored 1/7/2025

  • Miller (IL)

    IL • R

    Sponsored 1/7/2025

  • Hageman

    WY • R

    Sponsored 1/13/2025

  • Tiffany

    WI • R

    Sponsored 1/28/2025

  • Rulli

    OH • R

    Sponsored 2/4/2025

  • Van Drew

    NJ • R

    Sponsored 2/4/2025

  • Harris (NC)

    NC • R

    Sponsored 2/14/2025

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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