What This Bill Does · Plain English
Summary · Congress.gov
Rural Veterans’ Improved Access to Benefits Act of 2025 This bill extends and expands the pilot program under which certain non-Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care professionals may be contracted to provide disability examinations to veterans, regardless of the jurisdiction of their licensure, for purposes of Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits and care. Specifically, the bill (1) expands the types of health care professionals who may provide such examinations, and (2) extends the authority for such professionals to be contracted for this purpose through January 5, 2031. Currently, such examinations may only be contracted to licensed non-VA physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, audiologists, or psychologists. The bill expands the list to include qualified health care professionals who are eligible for appointment to specified positions in the Veterans Health Administration, including hospital or clinic directors, dentists, and pharmacists. The VA must report on its use of the expanded authority under this bill.
Action Timeline
2025-09-16
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
2025-09-15
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 3951.
2025-09-15
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
2025-09-15
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H4289)
2025-09-15
Mr. Bost moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
2025-09-15
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H4289)
2025-09-15
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H4289: 1)
2025-09-09
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 215.
2025-09-09
Reported by the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. H. Rept. 119-259.
2025-09-09
Reported by the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. H. Rept. 119-259.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did HR.3951 pass?
HR.3951 is still alive. Current stage: PASSED_ONE. Pass likelihood: pending.
What does HR.3951 do?
Rural Veterans’ Improved Access to Benefits Act of 2025 This bill extends and expands the pilot program under which certain non-Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care professionals may be contracted to provide disability examinations to veterans, regardless of the jurisdiction of their licensure, for purposes of Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits and care. Specifically, the bill (1) expands the types of health care professionals who may provide such examinations, and (2) extends the authority for such professionals to be contracted for this purpose through January 5, 2031. C…
Who sponsored HR.3951?
HR.3951 was sponsored by Juan Ciscomani (R-Arizona).
Full Bill Text
119 HR 3951 EH: Rural Veterans’ Improved Access to Benefits Act of 2025 U.S. House of Representatives text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain. I 119th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 3951 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AN ACT To amend the Veterans’ Benefits Improvements Act of 1996 and the Johnny Isakson and David P. Roe, M.D. Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2020 to improve the temporary licensure requirements for contract health care professionals who perform medical disability examinations for the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Rural Veterans’ Improved Access to Benefits Act of 2025 . 2. Improvements to temporary licensure requirements for contract health care professionals who perform medical disability examinations for the Department of Veterans Affairs (a) Expansion Section 504 of the Veterans’ Benefits Improvements Act of 1996 ( Public Law 104–275 ; 38 U.S.C. 5101 note), as amended by paragraph (1) of subsection (a) of section 2002 of the Johnny Isakson and David P. Roe, M.D. Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2020 ( Public Law 116–315 ; 38 U.S.C. 5101 note), is further amended, subject to the sunset in paragraph (4) of such subsection, by striking paragraph (2) of subsection (c) and inserting the following: (2) Health care professional described A health care professional described in this paragraph is a person who is eligible for appointment to a position in the Veterans Health Administration covered by section 7402(b) of title 38, United States Code, who— (A) has a current and unrestricted license to practice the health care profession of the health care professional; (B) is not barred from practicing such health care profession in any State; and (C) is performing authorized duties for the Department pursuant to a contract entered into under subsection (a). . (b) Delayed sunset of amendment Paragraph (4) of subsection (a) of section 2002 of the Johnny Isakson and David P. Roe, M.D. Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2020 ( Public Law 116–315 ; 38 U.S.C. 5101 note) is amended by striking On the date that is five years after the date of the enactment of this Act and inserting On September 30, 2031 . (c) Conforming amendment Paragraph (2) of such subsection is amended by striking physicians assistants, nurse practitioners, audiologists, and psychologists and inserting health care professionals . (d) Report Not later than 15 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives a report regarding the use of the authority under section 504 of the Veterans’ Benefits Improvements Act of 1996 ( Public Law 104–275 ; 38 U.S.C. 5101 note), as temporarily amended by section 2002(a)(1) of the Johnny Isakson and David P. Roe, M.D. Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2020 ( Public Law 116–315 ; 38 U.S.C. 5101 note) and this section. Such report shall include, with respect to the one-year period after the date of the enactment of this Act, the following elements: (1) The number of examinations conducted pursuant to a contract under such authority. (2) The cost, timeliness, and legal adequacy of such examinations, disaggregated by— (A) health care professional; and (B) contract. (3) The number of such examinations conducted in each State, the District of Columbia, or a Commonwealth, territory, or possession of the United States. (4) The numbers of each kind of health care professionals who conducted such examinations. (5) The number of examinations that were erroneously conducted by a health care professional— (A) without such a contract; or (B) unauthorized to enter into such a contract. (6) The plan of the Secretary to correct errors in the use of such authority. Passed the House of Representatives September 15, 2025. Kevin F. McCumber, Clerk.
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