Sen. Jon Husted (R-Ohio) has introduced the Rural Veterans’ Improved Access to Benefits Act, a bill aimed at making it easier for veterans living in rural areas to access certified health care providers for their disability claim exams.
Husted emphasized the importance of supporting veterans, stating, “Our veterans put their safety and lives on the line to protect our nation and freedoms, and we owe them a great debt. This bipartisan bill, which has already passed the House, will deliver rapid access to the care veterans in rural areas need and have earned. We need to fight for those who fought for us.”
The Johnny Isakson and David P. Roe, M.D. Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2020 previously allowed some exam providers—such as physician assistants, nurse practitioners, audiologists, and psychologists—to temporarily practice across state lines. That authority is set to expire in January 2026.
The new legislation seeks both to expand the range of health care professionals permitted to perform these exams and extend this cross-state practice authority until January 5, 2031. The Rural Veterans’ Improved Access to Benefits Act was approved by the House of Representatives on September 15, 2025.
A full text of the bill is available here.
