Congressman Nick Begich has voiced strong support for H.R. 740, the Veterans ACCESS Act of 2025, and joined House Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman Mike Bost (R-IL) as a co-sponsor. The bill aims to strengthen the Veterans Community Care Program by ensuring veterans receive timely healthcare and preventing the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) from restricting referrals to non-VA providers.
The Veterans ACCESS Act addresses challenges faced by Alaska’s veterans, especially those in rural areas, in accessing VA services.
The bill guarantees that veterans can seek private healthcare if the VA cannot provide care within 20 days for primary and mental health services, 28 days for specialty care, or if travel exceeds 30-60 minutes. It also holds the VA accountable by prohibiting the misrepresentation of appointment availability and ensures that veterans are not denied access to community care.
It also strengthens mental health and substance abuse treatment by requiring the VA to approve residential treatment within 48 hours for veterans in crisis. It mandates transparency by requiring the VA to provide written notice if community care is denied, along with reasons and appeal instructions.
Begich emphasized that the bill prioritizes veterans’ care, ensuring they are not forced to wait or travel long distances for services.
“Our heroes deserve the best possible care, without excessive wait times or bureaucratic barriers,” said Congressman Begich. “This bill puts veterans first, strengthens private healthcare options, and ensures that no veteran is forced to wait or travel extreme distances for care they should be able to receive closer to home.”
The bill, introduced on January 28, 2025, has been referred to the House Committee on Veterans Affairs for further consideration.
