Steve Daines (R-MT)
Protecting Veteran Community Care Act
A Republican bill with 3 Republican cosponsors · See all 3 cosponsors
Last activity — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The "Protecting Veteran Community Care Act" aims to expand the Veterans Community Care Program to better include mental health and substance-use services. It seeks to ensure that veterans facing difficulty accessing residential treatment through the Department of Veterans Affairs can access community providers instead. The bill establishes specific quality and accreditation standards for these residential programs. It also prohibits the Department from using provider wait times or access standards as a reason to deny a veteran care. Additionally, the Act requires new data reporting regarding care requests and authorizations. Finally, it places restrictions on how the Secretary can modify community care access standards moving forward.
Yes· 3 of 7
- Scored +10
Would veterans be better off under this, taking everything together?
The bill provides significant expansion of critical healthcare services for veterans.
- Scored +9
Does this help veterans get medical care?
It significantly enhances veteran care by improving access to specialized mental health and residential services.
- Scored +8
Does this make mental health care easier to get?
The bill expands access to residential mental health and substance-use services for veterans.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Expanded Access to Care: The bill expands the Veterans Community Care Program to include residential mental health or substance-suse services if the Department cannot accommodate the veteran or meet specific access standards (Section 3(a)(1)(F)).
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Increased Flexibility for Veterans: If multiple care options are available, the Secretary must allow the veteran to choose the option they prefer (Section 4(4)).
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Protection Against Denials Based on Wait Times: The Secretary is prohibited from declaring a veteran ineligible for care solely because community providers cannot meet certain wait times or access standards (Section 4(3)).
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Quality Assurance for Residential Programs: The bill ensures that residential mental health or substance-use facilities meet specific standards, such as being licensed by a State and accredited by organizations like the Joint Commission or the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (Section 3(a)(3)(1)).
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Improved Accountability through Data: The Department will be required to report specific metrics, including the number of care requests, approvals, and denials, as well as data regarding mental health requests and emergency care authorizations (Section 5(a)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Potential for Waivers of Standards: While the bill sets high standards for residential facilities, the Secretary has the authority to waive these standards on an individual basis if no other program is available or if it is deemed in the veteran's best interest (Section 3(a)(3)(2)(B)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Healthcare
- Does this help veterans get medical care? — It significantly enhances veteran care by improving access to specialized mental health and residential services. Does this make mental health care easier to get? — The bill expands access to residential mental health and substance-use services for veterans. Does this do more about addiction and overdose deaths? — By including substance-use services, it supports the response to addiction and related crises. Does this make health care easier to get in general? — It broadens the scope of available community care for specific critical health needs.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would veterans be better off under this, taking everything together? — The bill provides significant expansion of critical healthcare services for veterans.
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Does this increase the pay, pensions or support veterans receive? — The bill expands coverage and access to essential mental health and substance-use services for veterans.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill mandates new data reporting on care requests, approvals, and denials.
- 6/10/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 5/22/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in Senate
4 bills Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Marsha BlackburnRepublican · Tennessee
Chuck GrassleyRepublican · Iowa
Cynthia LummisRepublican · Wyoming