WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) is continuing his efforts to make community care more accessible for veterans by reintroducing the Ensuring Continuity in Veterans Health Act. Senator Tuberville’s legislation would amend Title 38 of the United States Code to require the VA to consider continuity of healthcare when deciding whether seeing a provider in the community is in a veteran’s best medical interest.
Washington Examiner first reported on Senator Tuberville’s efforts earlier today.
“Our veterans have sacrificed so much for our country, and deserve access to quick and quality care,” said Senator Tuberville. “Under the Biden-Harris VA, we witnessed an exasperation of bureaucratic red tape, which has put our veterans’ health at risk. Allowing veterans to see their local doctor alleviates wait and drive times, especially for those who do not live close to a VA facility. I’m proud to introduce the Ensuring Continuity in Veterans Health Act and will keep fighting to put our veterans first.”
U.S. Representative Scott Franklin (R-FL-15) reintroduced companion legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives.
“Those who bravely served our nation deserve a healthcare system that provides timely access to quality care,” saidCongressman Franklin. “Our veterans should be empowered to choose the care that works best for them, whether inside or outside the VA. I’m proud to reintroduce my bill, the Ensuring Continuity in Veterans Health Act, which builds upon President Trump’s MISSION Act. It will eliminate red tape that disrupts VA benefits and remove any Biden Administration hurdles that forced veterans back into inconvenient healthcare options. It will also make it easier for veterans to receive timely access to personalized treatment and services regardless of where they live. I thank Senator Tommy Tuberville for leading this effort in the Senate and for my colleagues’ support of this critical legislation.”
Specifically, the legislation would:
- Allow veterans to continue accessing community care for services they already receive;
- Prevent disruptions for veterans receiving specialized treatments from community care providers, such as mental health care; and
- Provide veterans with the most convenient providers.
BACKGROUND
Senator Tuberville represents Alabama’s more than 400,000 veterans on the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, where he’s worked to streamline the community care process for the men and women who’ve worn the military uniform.
He recently helped introduce the Veterans’ Assuring Critical Care Expansions to Support Servicemembers (ACCESS) Act of 2025, which would increase access to care for veterans through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) providers in the community.
Last year, Senator Tuberville joined Senator Jerry Moran (R-KS) in sending a letter to former VA Secretary McDonough urging him to reassess actions taken by the Biden-Harris VA to cut referrals to community care. He also pressed Sec. McDonough about this and the rehiring of 4,000 VA employees who were dismissed under the Department of Veterans Affairs Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act of 2017 for their failure to provide swift and safe care to veterans.
MORE:
Tuberville Continues Fight to Protect Veterans’ Access to Community Care
Tuberville, Blackburn Reintroduce Bill to Improve Veterans’ Access to Health Care
Tuberville, Blackburn Introduce Legislation to Improve Veterans’ Access to Free-Market Health Care
Tuberville Pushes Legislation to Improve Quality, Access to Care for Veterans
Tuberville Questions Collins, Wants to Restore VA to its Original Mission
The VA is broken, and Doug Collins can fix it
The Dangerous Biden-Harris Plan to Leave our Veterans Behind
Tuberville, Colleagues Push Back Against Cuts to Prescription Reimbursements for TRICARE Members
Senator Tommy Tuberville represents Alabama in the United States Senate and is a member of the Senate Armed Services, Agriculture, Veterans’ Affairs, HELP, and Aging Committees.
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