# 119-s-275: Veterans’ Assuring Critical Care Expansions to Support Servicemembers (ACCESS) Act of 2025

119-s-275, Veterans’ Assuring Critical Care Expansions to Support Servicemembers (ACCESS) Act of 2025, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Sen. Moran, Jerry [R-KS] (R-KS); status in_committee; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-07-09).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-275
- As of: 2026-07-09
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-s-275
- Congress: 119
- Title: Veterans’ Assuring Critical Care Expansions to Support Servicemembers (ACCESS) Act of 2025
- Status: in_committee
- Introduced: 2025-01-28
- Sponsor: Sen. Moran, Jerry [R-KS] (R-KS)
- Cosponsors: 15
- Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
- Touches household money: yes
- Last recorded action: 2026-07-09

## Summary

**Establishes standardized, age‑agnostic access rules so veterans can get community and residential care faster and more predictably.** The bill would set clear drive‑time and wait‑time thresholds, speed admissions and appeals for mental health residential programs, and create pilots and self‑service tools to improve access and oversight. - Veterans and families would get written notice of eligibility within two business days and periodic reminders. They would also be informed when telehealth is available and appropriate. - Veterans seeking residential mental health or substance use care would be screened within 48 hours and, if eligible for priority admission, admitted within 48 hours or offered an accredited non‑VA placement that can meet the timeline. - VA and non‑VA providers would face new tracking, quality, and reporting rules. The bill would require real‑time access data, mandatory staff training, pilot evaluations, and a Comptroller General review within two years to assess wait times and appeals.

## Cosponsors (15)

- Sen. Banks, Jim [R-IN] (R-IN), 2025-01-29T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Tuberville, Tommy [R-AL] (R-AL), 2025-02-03T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Tillis, Thomas [R-NC] (R-NC), 2025-02-03T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Rounds, Mike [R-SD] (R-SD), 2025-02-06T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Blackburn, Marsha [R-TN] (R-TN), 2025-03-11T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Sheehy, Tim [R-MT] (R-MT), 2025-04-30T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Scott, Rick [R-FL] (R-FL), 2025-05-20T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Moody, Ashley [R-FL] (R-FL), 2025-07-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Cruz, Ted [R-TX] (R-TX), 2025-07-15T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Ricketts, Pete [R-NE] (R-NE), 2025-09-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Capito, Shelley Moore [R-WV] (R-WV), 2025-09-16T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Grassley, Chuck [R-IA] (R-IA), 2025-09-18T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Lee, Mike [R-UT] (R-UT), 2026-03-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Sullivan, Dan [R-AK] (R-AK), 2026-04-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Husted, Jon [R-OH] (R-OH), 2026-05-12T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- Faster residential mental health care: benefit, high. If enacted, the VA would have to screen veterans for covered residential mental health and addiction programs within 48 hours of a request. Veterans who qualify for priority care would have to be admitted within 48 hours of that determination. If the VA cannot meet those timelines, the VA would off…
- Easier outpatient mental health pilot: benefit, medium. If enacted, the VA Center for Innovation would run a three-year pilot at at least five sites letting enrolled veterans get outpatient mental health and substance use care without a referral or pre-authorization. The pilot must prioritize varied site types (urban, rural, high-need areas), set up car…
- New community care access standards: benefit, medium. If enacted, the VA would set clear triggers for when veterans can elect community care. For primary, mental, and extended care the rule would be an average 30-minute drive or a wait of 20 days. For specialty care the rule would be a 60-minute drive or a wait of 28 days. Telehealth would not count t…
- Faster eligibility notices and appeals: benefit, low. If enacted, the VA would have to notify covered veterans in writing within two business days when they are eligible for community care and must send denial notices within two business days that explain why and how to appeal. Notices may be electronic. The VA would also be required to tell veterans…

## Related bills

- 119-s-1071: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026
- 119-s-186: No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion and Abortion Insurance Full Disclosure Act of 2025
- 119-s-128: SAVE Act
- 119-s-65: Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2025
- 119-sres-913: A resolution relating to the death of the Honorable Nancy Kassebaum, former United States Senator for the State of Kansas.
- 119-sres-897: A resolution honoring the life, service, and legacy of the Honorable Jon Llewellyn Kyl, former Senator for the State of Arizona.

## Sources
- [119-s-275 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/275)

## Related
- [119-s-1071: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1071)
- [119-s-186: No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion and Abortion Insurance Full Disclosure Act of…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-186)
- [119-s-128: SAVE Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-128)
- [119-s-65: Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-65)
- [119-sres-913: A resolution relating to the death of the Honorable Nancy Kassebaum, former Uni…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-sres-913)
- [119-sres-897: A resolution honoring the life, service, and legacy of the Honorable Jon Llewel…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-sres-897)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-275 (as of 2026-07-09).