Bill · S. 585· Senate(119-S-585)
Servicemember to Veteran Health Care Connection Act of 2025
- Introduced
- 2/13/2025
- Last activity
- 5/21/2025 — Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 119-86.
- Sponsored by
- Angus King
- Cosponsors
- 0 - 1
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The Servicemember to Veteran Health Care Connection Act of 2025 aims to amend title 38 of the United States Code. It establishes a pre-transition health care registration process for members of the Armed Forces who are separating from service. This process is designed to facilitate easier enrollment in the Department of Veterans Affairs patient enrollment system. The bill requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to automatically register members in a pre-transition system 180 days before their anticipated separation. Additionally, the bill mandates outreach and assistance to help individuals transition into the health care system.
Yes· 3 of 10
Would veterans be better off under this, taking everything together?+8
The bill facilitates a smoother, more proactive transition into the VA healthcare system to support physical and mental health.
Does this increase the pay, pensions or support veterans receive?+8
The bill streamlines the transition from active duty to the VA healthcare system to better support veteran health and wellness.
Does this make health care easier to get in general?+7
The bill establishes a pre-transition registration and outreach process to facilitate easier access to VA healthcare for transitioning service members.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Streamlined Health Care Access: The bill establishes a pre-transition system to facilitate and permit future enrollment in the patient enrollment system once a member is eligible (Section 2(a)(1)).
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Proactive Assistance for Transitioning Members: The Secretary is required to assist individuals with completing enrollment forms and scheduling initial primary care or other health appointments shortly after separation (Section 2(b)(1)).
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Comprehensive Information and Outreach: The bill mandates that the Secretary conduct outreach to explain registration, enrollment steps, and available health care services, including those available regardless of enrollment like counseling for military sexual trauma (Section 2(c)(1)).
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Targeted Engagement for Under-represented Groups: The Secretary is directed to proactively engage with veterans from traditionally under-represented groups, including women, minority, Native American, Native Hawaiian, Alaska Native, and LGBTQIA+ veterans (Section 2(e)(4)).
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Support for Mental and Physical Health: The goal of the streamlined process is to support the mental and physical health of individuals and reduce veteran suicide (Section 2(d)(1)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No specific negative impacts are explicitly stated in the text. The bill includes a rule of construction stating that nothing in the Act shall be construed to require any member of the Armed Forces, former member, or veteran to use any service of the Department of Veterans Affairs or to enroll in the patient enrollment system (Section 2(h)).
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+8Good For L G B T Q Community+6Good For Native Americans+6Good For Women+6Good For African Americans+5Good For Hispanic Americans+5Good For White Americans+5
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Improves Veterans Benefits+8
- Healthcare
- Improves Healthcare Access+7
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves L G B T Q Rights+5
- 5/21/2025
- Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 119-86.
- 2/13/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
- 3 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in Senate
Kevin CramerRepublican · North Dakota
Tammy DuckworthDemocrat · Illinois
Mike RoundsRepublican · South Dakota