Veterans living near rural hospitals would get easier access to local care.
This bill would make it simpler for veterans in rural areas to get healthcare close to home. It would let them use local critical access hospitals and clinics without needing special permission first. The bill also aims to ensure these local providers are paid quickly and fairly for the care they give to veterans.
Today, veterans generally need prior authorization or a referral to get community care, and the rules don't specifically cover critical access hospitals based on how close a veteran lives to them. This bill would allow veterans within 35 miles of these hospitals or clinics to get care without prior approval or a referral. It would also ensure these providers are paid at specific Medicare rates and that their claims are processed within 60 days.
S 1868 · 119th Congress · May 22, 2025 · AI Summary by gemini-2.5-flash · 8/10
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7 filings mentioned this bill
Amounts reflect total quarterly lobbying spend reported to the Senate, not bill-specific spending. Source: Senate LDA filings.