This bill requires Veterans Affairs call centers to use multi-factor authentication to verify the identity of callers before taking high-impact actions. It directly affects veterans and beneficiaries who interact with VA services, ensuring their identities are confirmed more securely. The law defines high-impact actions as those where fraud could cause lasting harm, such as diverting funds or accessing sensitive accounts. By adding this requirement to federal code, the bill strengthens existing security controls for vulnerable service members.
This bill, known as the Contract Our Veterans Act of 2026, amends the Small Business Act to establish a specific goal for federal agencies to award at least 5 percent of total prime contract and subcontract value to small businesses owned and controlled by veterans. The legislation creates new contracting procedures that allow agencies to use sole source contracts and restricted competition methods for these veteran-owned businesses under certain conditions, such as when multiple qualified vendors are expected to submit offers. Additionally, the bill requires federal agencies to track and report on veteran-owned business participation across various procurement categories, including sole source awards and restricted competitions, and updates existing small business utilization programs to include this new category.
This bill, titled the Healthcare is Human Act of 2026, creates a tax credit for licensed health care professionals who work in qualifying facilities, including Veterans Affairs medical facilities and those located in health professional shortage areas. The credit amount varies based on the number of hours worked each month, ranging from $300 to $500 per month depending on whether the professional works between 80-120, 120-160, or more than 160 hours of qualifying health care services. To receive the credit, professionals must work at least 80 hours in at least 8 months during the tax year, and their modified adjusted gross income must not exceed $200,000 for single filers or $400,000 for joint filers. The credit is available for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025, and expires after December 31, 2030, with a requirement for a Government Accountability Office study to evaluate its impact on health care retention and access.
Ensuring Continuity in Veterans Health Act This bill requires the consideration of continuity of care when determining whether care through the Veterans Community Care Program is in the best medical interest of a veteran.
This bill, known as the State Veterans Homes Inspection Simplification Act, would allow certain State Veterans Homes that are already certified by the Department of Veterans Affairs to be automatically considered compliant with Medicare and Medicaid nursing home standards. Under this proposal, facilities meeting specific VA inspection and certification requirements would not need to undergo separate reviews by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, reducing duplication of effort. The legislation maintains oversight by requiring the VA to submit its inspection standards for review every two years, allowing CMS to conduct targeted surveys or complaints investigations, and mandating public reporting of inspection data on the Nursing Home Care Compare website. A Government Accountability Office report would be required three years after enactment to evaluate the bill's impact on survey efficiency, enforcement outcomes, and resident care quality.
This bill, known as the Veteran Burial Benefit Correction Act, would increase the amount of burial and funeral expenses the Department of Veterans Affairs pays for veterans who die from service-connected disabilities. Currently, the maximum payment is $2,000, and this legislation would raise that cap to $3,000. Additionally, the bill establishes an automatic annual adjustment mechanism that ties the payment amount to changes in the Consumer Price Index, ensuring the benefit keeps pace with inflation. The changes would directly affect families of veterans who pass away from conditions linked to their military service.
This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to create and maintain a database of certified veteran-owned and service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses to help meet its subcontracting goals. The database will categorize businesses based on whether the owners have service-connected disabilities and will exclude companies involved in mentor-protege programs or joint ventures, as well as those without a satisfactory performance history. The database will be available to businesses bidding on VA contracts to help them develop subcontracting plans, and the Secretary must submit a report to Congress within 180 days of establishment detailing usage and results. Implementation will use existing VA resources without additional funding, and the requirement will expire on December 31, 2028.
This bill, known as the Carlton H. Ingram Veterans' Benefits Protection Act, amends the Department of Veterans Affairs' disability rating system to ensure that a veteran's disability level is assessed without considering the positive effects of medication or treatment. The key provision requires the VA to establish a baseline disability rating that reflects the veteran's condition before treatment, ensuring compensation is based on the underlying disability rather than improvements from medical care. Veterans seeking compensation for additional disabilities caused by or worsened by their treatment for service-connected conditions remain eligible for benefits under this change. The legislation aims to provide a more accurate reflection of a veteran's true disability status when determining compensation levels.
This bill, known as the Rx ACCESS Act, aims to improve medication access for military beneficiaries enrolled in the TRICARE health program by allowing them to choose how they receive non-generic prescription maintenance medications starting in October 2026. It requires pharmacy benefit managers to reimburse retail pharmacies at least the actual cost of acquiring drugs plus a professional dispensing fee, and prohibits hidden fees on pharmacies. The bill also mandates annual audits by the Government Accountability Office to review reimbursement rates, pharmacy network adequacy, and beneficiary access, with results reported to congressional defense committees.
This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to establish at least five centers of excellence focused on innovative therapies for treating veterans with specific conditions like PTSD, depression, and chronic pain. The VA Secretary must select facilities based on competitive peer reviews that evaluate scientific merit, research capabilities, and partnerships with medical schools for training. Each center must include an advisory committee with veteran representatives and develop a national data repository to track treatment outcomes. The legislation authorizes $30 million annually for research and education activities at these centers while ensuring geographic distribution across the country.
