Sens. Tuberville and Moran Introduce Legislation to Improve Access to Care for Veterans

Sens. Tuberville and Moran Introduce Legislation to Improve Access to Care for Veterans

February 3, 2025 – WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-Alabama) joined U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kansas) in cosponsoring the Veterans' Assuring Critical Care Expansions to Support Servicemembers (ACCESS) Act of 2025.

The sponsors claim that their legislation would increase access to care for veterans through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) providers in the community.

"Veterans have paid the ultimate sacrifice in order to secure our freedom," said Sen. Tuberville. "Over the last four years, many veterans have endured painfully long wait times and few options for care outside the VA. We should be providing quality and timely community care options-not making it harder for veterans to even get through the door. This legislation is a crucial step in righting the wrongs of the past administration. I trust that soon-to-be Secretary Doug Collins will prioritize getting veterans access to the care they earned."

U.S. Senators Tuberville and Moran are joined by U.S. Sens. Jim Banks (R-Indiana) and Thom Tillis (R-North Carolina).

The legislation is endorsed by the Wounded Warrior Project, Disabled American Veterans, The American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, Paralyzed Veterans of America, Military Officers Association of America, America's Warrior Partnership, Vietnam Veterans of America, the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors, the Elizabeth Dole Foundation, the Military Order of the Purple Heart, Hunter Seven Foundation, Concerned Veterans for America, Americans for Prosperity and the National Defense Committee.

The Veterans' Assuring Critical Care Expansions to Support Servicemembers (ACCESS) Act of 2025 would establish existing community care access standards as the baseline standard of care for veterans seeking care in the community, increase access to life-saving treatment programs for veterans with mental health conditions or addiction and expand the list of criteria VA is required to take into account when determining whether it is in a veteran's best medical interest to refer a veteran to the community to include veteran preference and continuity of care.

Last year, Sen. Tuberville joined Sen. Moran in sending a letter to former Secretary McDonough urging him to reassess actions taken by the VA to cut referrals to community care. Sen. Tuberville also partnered with Sen. Rubio in introducing the Ensuring Continuity in Veterans Health Act, which would require the VA to consider continuity of healthcare when deciding whether seeing a provider in the community is in a veteran's best medical interest.

Senator Tommy Tuberville represents Alabama in the United States Senate and is a member of the Senate Armed Services, Agriculture, Veterans' Affairs, HELP, and Aging Committees.