HR-6595 : Still Just a Bill

H.R. 6595, titled "To direct the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to improve the availability of care for veterans at facilities of the Department of Defense," aims to enhance healthcare access for veterans by increasing the use of Department of Defense (DOD) medical facilities. This legislation directs the Secretaries of Defense and Veterans Affairs to develop and implement action plans at specified DOD and Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) facilities with the following objectives:

• Strengthen the sharing of resources between the DOD and VA.
• Improve communication between the VA and military medical treatment facility leadership.
• Increase the utilization of military medical treatment facilities that have excess capacity or space to care for veterans.
• Increase opportunities for graduate medical education programs through higher patient volume and complexity.
• Improve access to care for enrolled veterans in areas where a military medical treatment facility has excess capacity.

These action plans must include provisions for:

• Cross-credentialing healthcare providers to allow them to work in both DOD and VA facilities.
• Expedited access to DOD installations for VA staff and enrolled veterans.
• Designating a coordinator at each facility to serve as a liaison.
• Monitoring the effectiveness of the plans through performance goals and data collection.
• Integrating information technology and other systems for seamless information sharing, medical records, referrals, orders, and payment processes.
• Establishing an oversight and accountability plan for adverse medical events and patient complaints.

The bill further mandates that these action plans receive approval from key leadership, including the co-chairs of the VA-DOD Joint Executive Committee, local installation commanders, and relevant VA medical center directors. It also requires a secure process for veterans to report concerns regarding care, with protections for confidentiality and against retaliation. All complaints and adverse events must be documented, jointly reviewed quarterly, and serious allegations promptly referred for investigation by the respective Offices of Inspector General. The VA Secretary may suspend referrals to a provider or facility pending an investigation.

The Secretaries are required to submit these action plans to Congress within 30 days of completion and provide annual briefings on their implementation, including patient numbers, provider cross-credentialing, costs, and effectiveness of oversight mechanisms. Importantly, the legislation specifies that veterans are not required to seek care at DOD facilities, and the use of a military medical treatment facility does not alter a veteran's eligibility for non-VA care. The provisions of this section are set to terminate on September 30, 2028.