Veterans Patient Advocacy Act

The Veterans Patient Advocacy Act (S 449) requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to assign at least one patient advocate for every 13,500 enrolled veterans at VA medical facilities, beginning one year after the bill's enactment. It specifically ensures rural veterans can access these advocates, including through community-based clinics where feasible. The bill mandates a report by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to Congress within two years, evaluating how well the VA implements this advocate staffing requirement. This policy directly affects VA medical facilities and the veterans receiving care there by increasing structured support for navigating VA healthcare services.