S 1868

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IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

May 22, 2025

Mr. Cramer (for himself and Mr. Sheehy) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs

A BILL

To amend title 38, United States Code, to expand access by veterans to critical access hospitals and affiliated clinics under the Veterans Community Care Program, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the “Critical Access for Veterans Care Act”.

SEC. 2. EXPANSION OF ACCESS BY VETERANS TO CRITICAL ACCESS HOSPITALS AND AFFILIATED CLINICS UNDER VETERANS COMMUNITY CARE PROGRAM.

(a) In General.—Subsection (d)(1) of section 1703 of title 38, United States Code, is amended—

(1) in subparagraph (D), by striking “; or” and inserting a semicolon;

(2) in subparagraph (E), by striking the period at the end and inserting “; or”; and

(3) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:

“(F) with respect to care or services sought by a covered veteran at a critical access hospital or provider-based rural health clinic affiliated with such hospital (including any care or services sought from a health care provider specified in subsection (c) located in the surrounding community of such hospital or clinic due to a referral from such hospital or clinic), the veteran resides within 35 miles of such hospital or clinic.”.

(b) Prior Authorization and Referral.—Such section is further amended—

(1) in subsection (a)(3), by striking “A covered veteran” and inserting “Except as provided in subsection (d)(5), a covered veteran”; and

(2) in subsection (d), by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

“(5) The Secretary may not require a covered veteran to receive authorization or a referral prior to the receipt of care or services under paragraph (1)(F).”.

(c) Payment Rate and Claims for Care and Services.—Subsection (i) of such section is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

“(7)(A) With respect to care or services furnished under this section—

“(i) at a critical access hospital, including pursuant to subsection (d)(1)(F), the critical access hospital rate established under the Medicare program under title XVIII of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395 et seq.) shall apply instead of the service-based rate; and

“(ii) at a provider-based rural health clinic affiliated with such hospital, including pursuant to subsection (d)(1)(F), the rate specified under section 1833 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395l) shall apply.

“(B) Claims for covered veterans receiving care under subsection

(d)(1)(F) shall include an identifier denoting the care or services provided under such subsection and shall be reimbursed at the cost- based level under the Medicare program.

“(C) The Secretary, in consultation with the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, may furnish additional guidance regarding the claims process under this paragraph in accordance with the best practices of medicare administrative contractors (as defined in section 1874A(a)(3) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395kk-1(a)(3))) in processing cost-based reimbursement for services furnished at critical access hospitals or provider-based rural health clinics affiliated with such hospitals.

“(D) Claims for covered veterans receiving care under subsection

(d)(1)(F) shall be reviewed and payment shall be issued in accordance with the findings of such review not later than 60 days after the submission of the claim.”.

(d) Definitions.—Subsection (o) of such section is amended—

(1) by redesignating paragraph (2) as paragraph (3); and

(2) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following new paragraph (2):

“(2) The term ‘critical access hospital’ has the meaning given that term in section 1861(mm) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x(mm)).”.

(e) Report.—

(1) In general.—Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to Congress a report on third party administrators and community care providers concerning the implementation of the amendments made by this section, including timely approval and payment of claims under section 1703(d)(1)(F), as added by subsection (a), and overall user experience associated with care or services provided pursuant to such amendments.

(2) Definitions.—In this subsection:

(A) Community care provider.—The term “community care provider” means a health care provider specified in paragraph (1) or (5) of section 1703(c) of title 38, United States Code.

(B) Third party administrator.—The term “third party administrator” means an entity that manages a provider network and performs administrative services related to such network within the Veterans Community Care Program under section 1703 of title 38, United States Code. <all>