Veterans’ Assuring Critical Care Expansions to Support Servicemembers (ACCESS) Act of 2025
Sponsor

Full profile: /officials/M000934
Source: Congress.gov · FEC
Cosponsors (15)
Members who have signed on to support this bill since introduction. Source: Congress.gov.
- Jim Banks (R-IN)· 2025-01-29
- Thom Tillis (R-NC)· 2025-02-03
- Tommy Tuberville (R-AL)· 2025-02-03
- Mike Rounds (R-SD)· 2025-02-06
- Marsha Blackburn (R-TN)· 2025-03-11
- Tim Sheehy (R-MT)· 2025-04-30
- Rick Scott (R-FL)· 2025-05-20
- Ashley Moody (R-FL)· 2025-07-14
- Ted Cruz (R-TX)· 2025-07-15
- Pete Ricketts (R-NE)· 2025-09-09
- Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV)· 2025-09-16
- Chuck Grassley (R-IA)· 2025-09-18
- Mike Lee (R-UT)· 2026-03-09
- Dan Sullivan (R-AK)· 2026-04-14
- Jon Husted (R-OH)· 2026-05-12
Latest Action
The most recent step in the bill's legislative path. Committee Activity below shows referrals and reports; the full action-by-action history including floor proceedings lives at Congress.gov →
Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
2025-07-30
Source: Congress.gov
Committee Activity
Previously
- Veterans' Affairs CommitteeMarkup By · 2025-07-30
- Senate Committee on Veterans' AffairsMarkup By · 2025-07-30
- Senate Committee on Veterans' AffairsHearings By (full committee) · 2025-03-11
- Veterans' Affairs CommitteeHearings By (full committee) · 2025-03-11
- Senate Committee on Veterans' AffairsReferred To · 2025-01-28
Plain-English Summary
Veterans' Assuring Critical Care Expansions to Support Servicemembers (ACCESS) Act of 2025 This bill addresses the administration of the Veterans Community Care Program (VCCP) and other Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care matters. Among other provisions regarding the VCCP, the bill establishes in statute access standards that determine when a veteran is eligible to receive non-VA care through the VCCP, requires the VA to notify veterans regarding their eligibility for care within two business days after the VA is aware the veteran is seeking care, and extends the deadline for the submittal of claims under the VCCP by health care entities and providers. The VA must address its mental health treatment programs by establishing a standardized screening process to determine whether a veteran satisfies criteria for priority or routine admission to a mental health residential rehabilitation treatment program or a program for residential care for mental health and substance abuse disorders, tracking the performance of medical facilities and Veterans Integrated Service Networks in meeting the requirements for mental health treatment screenings and timely admission to treatment programs under such screenings, and establishing an appeal process for when a veteran is denied admission to a covered treatment program or is accepted into a program but not offered bed placement in a timely manner. Additionally, the VA must establish an online self-service module for veterans to request and manage appointments, track referrals, and appeal and track decisions related to requests for care.
Plain-English rewrite of the Congressional Research Service summary published on Congress.gov. Cached and reviewed.
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