Critical Access for Veterans Care Act

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [S. 1868 Introduced in Senate (IS)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 1868 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. _______________________________________________________________________ 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 Refe