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119-s-4131119th CongressWALLET

Veteran Access to Neurosurgery Act of 2026

Sponsored By: Senator Cassidy, Bill [R-LA]

Introduced

Summary

Market-based rate adjustments for neurosurgery. This bill would create a five-year pilot in the Veterans Community Care Program that lets qualified neurosurgeons receive higher, market-based rates to expand access in rural and highly rural areas.

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  • Veterans: Rural veterans would be eligible for community neurosurgical care when no VA neurosurgery is available within a 60-day wait or within 100 miles, reducing travel and wait times.
  • Providers: Board-certified neurosurgeons who meet the bill's qualifications could receive market-based rate adjustments when current VCCP rates do not cover costs, making it more viable to treat VA patients.
  • Program design and oversight: The pilot must begin within one year of enactment, run for five years, operate in at least two Veterans Integrated Service Networks, require regulations within 180 days, and include annual Inspector General reviews plus annual reports to the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs and the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs on patients, services, costs, outcomes, and recommendations.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

More neurosurgery access for veterans

This bill would create a VA pilot to allow market-based pay for neurosurgery under the Veterans Community Care Program. The pilot would start no later than one year after enactment and could run five years in at least two VA regions with many rural veterans. Board-certified surgeons could receive higher, market-based rate adjustments when the VCCP rate does not cover the cost and the adjustment is necessary. Higher pay would be allowed only if no VA neurosurgery care is available within a 60-day wait or within 100 miles. VA would issue implementing regulations through notice-and-comment rulemaking within 180 days. The VA Inspector General would review the pilot annually starting within one year. The VA Secretary would report to the House and Senate Veterans' Affairs Committees within one year and then yearly, including patient counts, types of neurosurgery and counts, total costs, measurable outcomes, policy recommendations, and other relevant information.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Cassidy, Bill [R-LA]

LA • R

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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