Foreign Medical Program Modernization Act of 2025

Bill: 119-hr-467
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Van Drew, Jefferson [R-NJ-2]
Introduced: 2025-01-15
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Computers and information technology

Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad

Health care coverage and access

Public contracts and procurement

Veterans' medical care
Latest action: action_date: 2025-02-20
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Summaries:
action_date: 2025-01-15
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><strong>Foreign Medical Program Modernization Act of 2025</strong></p><p>This bill expands eligibility for care under the Foreign Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) by removing certain eligibility requirements. The program authorizes the VA to furnish care and services to veterans abroad (i.e., outside any state) for the treatment of service-connected disabilities or as part of a Veteran Readiness and Employment rehabilitation program. The bill expands eligibility for care by removing the requirement that a veteran have a service-connected disability or be participating in a rehabilitation program.</p><p>The bill also requires the VA to update its payment system to allow for reimbursements through electronic fund transfer.</p><p>Under the bill, the VA must assess the feasibility and implications of contracting with an appropriate non-VA entity to build a network of non-VA entities to provide hospital care and medical services abroad under the Foreign Medical Program.</p>

tv_txt: I 119th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 467 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES January 15, 2025 Mr. Van Drew introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs A BILL To amend title 38, United States Code, to eliminate the requirement of a service-connected disability to furnish veterans with medical care outside of a State, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Foreign Medical Program Modernization Act of 2025 . 2. Expansion of Foreign Medical Program of Department of Veterans Affairs (a) Elimination of service-Connected disability requirement Section 1724 of title 38, United States Code, is amended— (1) by striking subsection (a); (2) by redesignating subsections (b) through (e) as subsections (a) through (d), respectively; (3) in subsection (a), as so redesignated— (A) in paragraph (1), by striking if the Secretary determines that such care and services are needed for the treatment of a service-connected disability of the veteran or as part of a rehabilitation program under chapter 31 of this title ; and (B) in paragraph (2), by striking a service-connected disability of ; and (4) in subsection (d), as so redesignated, by striking who has a service-connected disability . (b) Electronic fund transfer reimbursement The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall update the payment system of the Department of Veterans Affairs to allow for reimbursements through electronic fund transfer for hospital care or medical services furnished pursuant to section 1724 of title 38, United States Code. (c) Assessment of contract for provision of care The Secretary shall assess the feasibility and implications of entering into a contract with an appropriate non-Department entity to build a network of non-Department entities to provide hospital care and medical services pursuant to section 1724 of title 38, United States Code, including implications for the administrative burden on veterans eligible to receive such care and services.