SenateS. 4131119th Congress
Veteran Access to Neurosurgery Act of 2026
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[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 4131 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 4131
To require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot
program to provide market-based rate adjustments to certain providers
for furnishing qualifying specialized surgical services to veterans
under the Veterans Community Care Program, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
March 18, 2026
Mr. Cassidy 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 carry out a pilot
program to provide market-based rate adjustments to certain providers
for furnishing qualifying specialized surgical services to veterans
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 ``Veteran Access to Neurosurgery Act
of 2026''.
SEC. 2. PILOT PROGRAM FOR MARKET-BASED RATE ADJUSTMENTS FOR QUALIFYING
SPECIALIZED SURGICAL SERVICES UNDER THE VETERANS
COMMUNITY CARE PROGRAM.
(a) In General.--Commencing not later than one year after the date
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall
carry out a pilot program to permit qualified providers to negotiate
market-based rate adjustments for furnishing qualifying specialized
surgical services to veterans under the Veterans Community Care Program
(in this section referred to as the ``pilot program'').
(b) Duration.--The Secretary may carry out the pilot program for
the five-year period beginning on the commencement of the pilot
program.
(c) Locations.--The Secretary shall carry out the pilot program in
not less than two Veterans Integrated Service Networks of the
Department of Veterans Affairs with a large number of veterans residing
in locations that are in rural or highly rural areas.
(d) Determination of Market-Based Rate Adjustments.--In carrying
out the pilot program, the Secretary shall provide a market-based rate
adjustment to a qualified provider in furnishing qualified specialized
surgical services to a veteran if--
(1) the provider demonstrates that the rate adjustment is
necessary to furnish such services;
(2) the rate otherwise applicable to such services under
the Veterans Community Care Program is insufficient to cover
the cost of furnishing such services; and
(3) the veteran lives in a geographical area where there
are no other qualifying specialized surgical services furnished
by the Department of Veterans Affairs, either direct care or
through the Veterans Community Care Program, available within
either a 60-day wait-time or distance of 100 miles.
(e) Regulations.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall prescribe, through notice
and comment rulemaking, regulations necessary to implement this
section.
(f) Inspector General Review.--Not later than one year after the
date of the enactment of this Act, and not less frequently than
annually thereafter for the duration of the pilot program, the
Inspector General of the Department of Veterans Affairs shall--
(1) conduct a review of the pilot program to ensure
compliance by the Secretary with requirements under the pilot
program and to ensure the efficiency and effectiveness of the
pilot program; and
(2) submit to the Secretary and the appropriate committees
of Congress a report containing the findings from such review.
(g) Annual Report.--Not later than one year after the date of the
enactment of this Act, and not less frequently than annually thereafter
for the duration of the pilot program, the Secretary shall submit to
the appropriate committees of Congress a report on the pilot program
that includes, for the year covered by the report, the following:
(1) The number of patients served under the pilot program.
(2) The different types of qualifying specialized surgical
services furnished under the pilot program and the number of
veterans furnished each such service.
(3) The total costs incurred in furnishing services under
the pilot program.
(4) A description of any measurable outcomes in terms of
health results for patients under the pilot program.
(5) Any policy recommendations for improvement of the pilot
program or recommendations as to whether the pilot program
should be extended or made permanent.
(6) Such other information as the Secretary determines
relevant to include.
(h) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Appropriate committees of congress.--The term
``appropriate committees of Congress'' means--
(A) the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the
Senate; and
(B) the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House
of Representatives.
(2) Qualified provider.--The term ``qualified provider''
means a board-certified surgeon.
(3) Qualifying specialized surgical services.--The term
``qualifying specialized surgical services'' means services
relating to neurosurgery.
(4) Veterans community care program.--The term ``Veterans
Community Care Program'' means the program under section 1703
of title 38, United States Code.
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