Docket HopperPart I · Bills · 119th S. 219
S. 219 · 119th CongressArmed Forces and National Security

Veterans Health Care Freedom Act has not moved since its introduction on Jan 23, 2025, with cosponsors, all Republicans

Sponsored by Blackburn, Marsha R-TN · 8 cosponsors: 0 Democrats, 8 Republicans
IntroducedJan 23, 2025
Reported—
Passed one chamber—
Passed both—
Law—
What it changes · CRS summary

Written by the Congressional Research Service [2]. 192 words.

Veterans Health Care Freedom Act This bill requires the Center for Innovation for Care and Payment within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to implement a three-year pilot program to provide veterans who are enrolled in the VA health care system with the ability to choose health care providers through the covered care system. Under the bill, the covered care system includes VA medical facilities, health care providers participating in the Veterans Community Care Program (VCCP), and eligible entities or providers that have entered into a Veterans Care Agreement. A veteran participating in the program may elect to receive care at any provider in the covered care system. The pilot program removes certain requirements (e.g., location of the veteran) to access care at VA and non-VA facilities. After four years, the bill permanently phases out the requirements for accessing care under the VCCP and Veterans Care Agreements and requires the VA to provide such care under the same conditions of the pilot program. Additionally, after four years, veterans may receive care at a VA medical facility regardless of whether the facility is in the same Veterans Integrated Service Network as the veteran.

Context
Committees
Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee
Policy area
Armed Forces and National Security: 268 of 6,567 bills became law, 113th–118th (4.1%)
Sponsor
5 of 387 bills enacted since 2013
Text versions
1: introduced in senate · 1,442 words
Subjects
Congressional oversightHealth care coverage and accessHealth facilities and institutionsHospital careVeterans' medical care
Latest action
May 21, 2025: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 119-86.
Records
Congress.gov · Bill text
Exhibit 1Passage odds band at each stage, rated when the bill reached it [4]
Related bills · 2

Each bill appears once, under its strongest link. 2 in all.

Related, per CRS or House · 2

See these 4 bills on the network map →

Exhibit 2Articles naming the bill per day, last 90 days, US sources [3]