# 119-s-4131: Veteran Access to Neurosurgery Act of 2026

119-s-4131, Veteran Access to Neurosurgery Act of 2026, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Sen. Cassidy, Bill [R-LA] (R-LA); status introduced; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-04-21).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-4131
- As of: 2026-04-21
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-s-4131
- Congress: 119
- Title: Veteran Access to Neurosurgery Act of 2026
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2026-03-18
- Sponsor: Sen. Cassidy, Bill [R-LA] (R-LA)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
- Touches household money: yes
- Last recorded action: 2026-04-21

## 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. - 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.

## Provisions PRIA read

- More neurosurgery access for veterans: benefit, low. 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 h…

## Related bills

- 119-s-4744: Take Care of America’s Veterans Act
- 119-s-2120: Older Americans Act Reauthorization Act of 2025
- 119-s-2121: SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Reauthorization Act of 2025
- 119-s-5258: PREFERRED Screening Act
- 119-s-4302: Improving IRS Customer Service Act
- 119-s-1941: Cure Hepatitis C Act of 2025

## Sources
- [119-s-4131 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/4131)

## Related
- [119-s-4744: Take Care of America’s Veterans Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-4744)
- [119-s-2120: Older Americans Act Reauthorization Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2120)
- [119-s-2121: SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Reauthorization Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2121)
- [119-s-5258: PREFERRED Screening Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5258)
- [119-s-4302: Improving IRS Customer Service Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-4302)
- [119-s-1941: Cure Hepatitis C Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1941)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-4131 (as of 2026-04-21).