S 1545 United States Senate · 118th Congress

Veterans Health Care Freedom Act

This bill creates a 3-year pilot program allowing enrolled veterans to choose any provider within the VA's "covered care system" (including VA facilities and contracted providers) for hospital, medical, and extended care - regardless of their local Veterans Integrated Service Network. It removes previous restrictions requiring veterans to first seek care at their local VA facility or prove non-VA care isn't "feasibly available." Veterans must select a primary care provider to coordinate their care, with specialty and mental health providers also chosen freely. After the pilot, the program's rules become permanent, requiring the VA to offer this choice universally without prior location or availability barriers.
Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
May 2023
Committee Review
Floor Vote
President
Introduced May 10, 2023 Last action Jul 12, 2023
Floor votes

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Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
3
Key actions
1
Committee
2
Jul 12, 2023
Upper · Passed
Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 118-217.
upper
May 10, 2023
Committee
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
upper
May 10, 2023
Introduced
Introduced in Senate
upper
1 primary · 3 co-sponsors

Sponsors