S. 275: Veterans’ Assuring Critical Care Expansions to Support Servicemembers (ACCESS) Act of 2025
A Senate bill (S.) in the 119th U.S. Congress.
Overview
| Congress | 119th U.S. Congress (2025–2026) |
|---|---|
| Type | Senate bill (S.) |
| Originating chamber | Senate |
| Introduced | 2025-01-28 |
| Sponsor | Sen. Moran, Jerry [R-KS] |
| Policy area | Armed Forces and National Security |
| Cosponsors | 15 |
| Latest action | 2025-07-30 — Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably. |
| Last updated | 2026-07-08 |
Summary
Official summary (Introduced in Senate, 2025-01-28):
Veterans' Assuring Critical Care Expansions to Support Servicemembers (ACCESS) Act of 2025
This bill addresses the administration of the Veterans Community Care Program (VCCP) and other Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care matters.
Among other provisions regarding the VCCP, the bill
- establishes in statute access standards that determine when a veteran is eligible to receive non-VA care through the VCCP,
- requires the VA to notify veterans regarding their eligibility for care within two business days after the VA is aware the veteran is seeking care, and
- extends the deadline for the submittal of claims under the VCCP by health care entities and providers.
The VA must address its mental health treatment programs by
- establishing a standardized screening process to determine whether a veteran satisfies criteria for priority or routine admission to a mental health residential rehabilitation treatment program or a program for residential care for mental health and substance abuse disorders,
- tracking the performance of medical facilities and Veterans Integrated Service Networks in meeting the requirements for mental health treatment screenings and timely admission to treatment programs under such screenings, and
- establishing an appeal process for when a veteran is denied admission to a covered treatment program or is accepted into a program but not offered bed placement in a timely manner.
Additionally, the VA must establish an online self-service module for veterans to request and manage appointments, track referrals, and appeal and track decisions related to requests for care.
Cosponsors (15)
| Name | Party / state |
|---|---|
| Jim Banks | R IN 2025-01-29 |
| Tommy Tuberville | R AL 2025-02-03 |
| Thom Tillis | R NC 2025-02-03 |
| Mike Rounds | R SD 2025-02-06 |
| Marsha Blackburn | R TN 2025-03-11 |
| Tim Sheehy | R MT 2025-04-30 |
| Rick Scott | R FL 2025-05-20 |
| Ashley Moody | R FL 2025-07-14 |
| Ted Cruz | R TX 2025-07-15 |
| Pete Ricketts | R NE 2025-09-09 |
| Shelley Moore Capito | R WV 2025-09-16 |
| Chuck Grassley | R IA 2025-09-18 |
| Mike Lee | R UT 2026-03-09 |
| Dan Sullivan | R AK 2026-04-14 |
| Jon Husted | R OH 2026-05-12 |
Full text & official record
The official bill text, section-by-section summary, amendments, committee reports, and the complete legislative timeline for S. 275 are published by Congress on congress.gov.
Frequently asked questions
What is S. 275?
S. 275 is a Senate bill (S.) introduced in the 119th U.S. Congress, originating in the Senate. Official title: Veterans’ Assuring Critical Care Expansions to Support Servicemembers (ACCESS) Act of 2025.
Where can I read the full bill text?
The full text, cosponsors, amendments, and legislative status for S. 275 are available on congress.gov.
Bill data: congress.gov API (official congressional records).