To improve the availability of care for veterans from facilities and providers of the Department of Defense.

SA 3814, submitted by Mr. Moran, aims to improve the availability of care for veterans by increasing the use of Department of Defense (DOD) facilities and providers.

The amendment seeks to add the following to the bill:

• Awareness and Training: Requires annual outreach to veterans about their ability to receive care at military medical treatment facilities and mandates training for staff and contractors on referring patients to DOD providers.

• Preferred Provider Status: Amends the law to ensure that certain providers are considered "preferred providers" within the community care program.

• Action Plans: Directs the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to create and implement action plans at covered facilities to:

  • Expand health care partnerships and communication.
  • Increase the use of military facilities that have excess capacity.
  • Improve resource sharing and reduce barriers to shared spaces.
  • Increase case volume for graduate medical education programs.

• Operational Improvements: The action plans must include cross-credentialing for staff, easier access to DOD installations for VA staff and beneficiaries, payment options for expenses, and the ability for eligible veterans to seek some services at military facilities without a VA referral.

• Management and Oversight: Requires the appointment of a coordinator at each facility, the creation of a public list of sharing agreements, and the submission of progress reports to Congress.

• Funding and Legalities: Allows the use of the DOD-VA Health Care Sharing Incentive Fund for these activities and clarifies that veterans are not required to seek care at DOD facilities.

• Pension Payments: Extends certain limits on pension payments from November 30, 2031, to April 30, 2032.