Heard on the Hill

Teresa Morris

July /August 2025

Advocacy and membership are essential to a strong voice on Capitol Hill. Your voice will be critical as we head into August recess.

Troubling legislation has been marked up by the House and Senate VA Committees.

H.R. 740/S. 275, the “Veterans’ Assuring Critical Care Expansions to Support Servicemembers (ACCESS) Act of 2025 includes provisions that if enacted, could seriously undermine future veterans' access to VA healthcare and services.

NOVA is advocating against several harmful provisions in the bill that would:

1. Allow a veteran’s “preference” for the first time, to automatically afford eligibility for community care. This would erode the VHA’s organizing foundation, which may eventually lead to changes in its staffing levels, in-house programs, and facility operations.
2. Permit veterans to access private sector healthcare without VHA referral, pre-authorization, or oversight that will also alter the integrated care model of the VHA, shifting its primary function from a provider of healthcare to a payer for private sector services.
3. While the intention is to vastly expand veterans’ preference and choice, these changes reduce healthcare options for the majority of veterans when specialized VHA programs and facilities are scaled back or closed.

Removing the VHA as the authorizer of care may eventually decrease available choices for veterans. As funds shift to the private sector, some veterans—particularly those with service-connected conditions who depend primarily on the VHA—could face fewer opportunities to select VHA services if essential units and programs are discontinued.

The bill cost would also drain internal VHA accounts – risking privatization of many VA services.

As we move into August recess, I encourage all of you to schedule meetings with your Members of Congress regarding what is happening at your VA facility and to speak about these issues and any other legislation that will harm internal VA care and services.

More than ever, your voice is critical during this time. Nurses remain one of the most respected professions across the country and your opinions are valued!

For information on the ACCESS Act / statement for the record and article published by the Veterans Healthcare Policy, learn more here: Veterans-ACCESS-Act-VHPI-analysis-2.15.25.pdf

I cannot stress the importance of your advocacy and influence. As nurses what you say matters and educating your lawmakers – both House & Senate – as to what you need to provide timely access to high quality healthcare is critical.

Keep advocating for yourselves, Veterans, and the VA System!