January 27, 2026
Mr. Husted introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs
To amend the Veterans’ Benefits Improvements Act of 1996 and the Johnny Isakson and David P. Roe, M.D. Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2020 to improve the temporary licensure requirements for contract health care professionals who perform medical disability examinations for the Department of Veterans Affairs, 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 Rural Veterans’ Improved Access to Benefits Act of 2026
.
Sec. 2. Improvements to temporary licensure requirements for contract health care professionals who perform medical disability examinations for the Department of Veterans Affairs
(a) Expansion
Section 504 of the Veterans’ Benefits Improvements Act of 1996 (Public Law 104–275; 38 U.S.C. 5101 note), as amended by paragraph (1) of subsection (a) of section 2002 of the Johnny Isakson and David P. Roe, M.D. Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2020 (Public Law 116–315; 38 U.S.C. 5101 note), is further amended, subject to the sunset in paragraph (4) of such subsection, by striking paragraph (2) of subsection (c) and inserting the following:
(2) Health care professional described
A health care professional described in this paragraph is a person who is eligible for appointment to a position in the Veterans Health Administration covered by section 7402(b) of title 38, United States Code, who—
(A)
has a current and unrestricted license to practice the health care profession of the health care professional;
(B)
is not barred from practicing such health care profession in any State; and
(C)
is performing authorized duties for the Department pursuant to a contract entered into under subsection (a).
(b) Delayed sunset of amendment
Paragraph (4) of subsection (a) of section 2002 of the Johnny Isakson and David P. Roe, M.D. Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2020 (Public Law 116–315; 38 U.S.C. 5101 note) is amended by striking On the date that is five years after the date of the enactment of this Act
and inserting On September 30, 2031
.
(c) Conforming amendment
Paragraph (2) of such subsection is amended by striking physicians assistants, nurse practitioners, audiologists, and psychologists
and inserting health care professionals
.
(d) Report
Not later than 15 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives a report regarding the use of the authority under section 504 of the Veterans’ Benefits Improvements Act of 1996 (Public Law 104–275; 38 U.S.C. 5101 note), as temporarily amended by section 2002(a)(1) of the Johnny Isakson and David P. Roe, M.D. Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2020 (Public Law 116–315; 38 U.S.C. 5101 note) and this section. Such report shall include, with respect to the one-year period after the date of the enactment of this Act, the following elements:
(1)
The number of examinations conducted pursuant to a contract under such authority.
(2)
The cost, timeliness, and legal adequacy of such examinations, disaggregated by—
(A)
health care professional; and
(B)
contract.
(3)
The number of such examinations conducted in each State, the District of Columbia, or a Commonwealth, territory, or possession of the United States.
(4)
The numbers of each kind of health care professionals who conducted such examinations.
(5)
The number of examinations that were erroneously conducted by a health care professional—
(A)
without such a contract; or
(B)
unauthorized to enter into such a contract.
(6)
The plan of the Secretary to correct errors in the use of such authority.