Improving Access to Care for Rural Veterans Act

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [S. 3033 Introduced in Senate (IS)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 3033 To require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish partnerships between medical facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs and medical facilities in rural areas, and for other purposes. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES October 22 (legislative day, October 21), 2025 Ms. Duckworth (for herself and Mrs. Blackburn) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish partnerships between medical facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs and medical facilities in rural areas, 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 ``Improving Access to Care for Rural Veterans Act''. SEC. 2. PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN MEDICAL FACILITIES OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS AND RURAL MEDICAL FACILITIES. (a) Partnerships.-- (1) In general.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall require that each medical facility of the Department of Veterans Affairs enter into a partnership with a medical facility in a rural area. (2) Agreements.--Each partnership entered into under paragraph (1) may include an agreement for provision of telehealth, co-location or leasing of space or equipment, training, care coordination, emergency services (including transportation), or other services as determined appropriate. (3) Purpose of partnership.--The purpose of any partnership entered into under paragraph (1) shall be to provide greater access to care for veterans in rural areas and to reduce costs to all entities within the partnership. (b