Bill · S. 3033· Senate(119-S-3033)
Improving Access to Care for Rural Veterans Act
- Introduced
- 10/22/2025
- Last activity
- 3/18/2026 — Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
- Sponsored by
- Tammy Duckworth
- Cosponsors
- - 0 - 1
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill is known as the Improving Access to Care for Rural Veterans Act. It requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to make sure that each Department of Veterans Affairs medical facility partners with a rural medical facility. The purpose of these partnerships is to give rural veterans better access to care and to lower costs for everyone involved. These partnerships can include telehealth, sharing equipment or space, training, care coordination, and emergency services. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs is allowed to grant waivers to facilities for up to five years if Congress is notified beforehand. The bill also requires the Secretary to give briefings and regular reports to specific committees in Congress to keep our elected officials accountable.
Yes· 3 of 11
Would veterans be better off under this, taking everything together?+9
The bill is specifically designed to improve healthcare access, coordination, and services for rural veterans.
Would people in rural areas be better off under this?+8
The bill directly targets rural areas by partnering local medical facilities with VA facilities to enhance community care options.
Does this help veterans get medical care?+8
The bill directly mandates partnerships between VA medical facilities and rural medical facilities to improve healthcare access for veterans.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Under Section 2(a), the Secretary of Veterans Affairs must require Department of Veterans Affairs medical facilities to partner with rural medical facilities. This is a positive step because it aims to give veterans in rural areas greater access to care and reduce costs for all entities in the partnership.
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Under Section 2(a)(2), partnerships may include telehealth, sharing or leasing space and equipment, training, care coordination, and emergency services including transportation. This is beneficial for individuals because it directly expands the types of medical services and practical support available to rural veterans.
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Under Section 2(c) and Section 2(d), the Secretary of Veterans Affairs is required to provide an initial briefing and regular reports to the appropriate committees of Congress regarding implementation plans, timelines, and the overall success of the partnerships. This holds our voted officials and government agencies accountable by ensuring Congress tracks whether these partnerships are actually improving services for veterans.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Under Section 2(b), the Secretary of Veterans Affairs is allowed to waive the partnership requirement for a medical facility for a period of up to five years. This could be viewed as a negative burden or delay for individuals, as rural veterans might have to wait years to receive the intended benefits of these local medical partnerships.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Veterans+9Good For Rural Residents+8Good For Retirees+6Good For Seniors+6
- Healthcare
- Improves Veterans Healthcare+8Improves Healthcare Access+7
- Governance And Ideology
- Improves Government Transparency+6Increases Federal Power+3
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Improves Veterans Benefits+8
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Improves Rural Development+6
- Education And Technology
- Improves Internet Access+3
- 3/18/2026
- Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
- 12/10/2025
- Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 119-247.
- 10/22/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in Senate
Marsha BlackburnRepublican · Tennessee