This bill mandates that the Secretary of Veterans Affairs enable women veterans to directly schedule appointments for specific women's specialty care without requiring a referral from a primary care provider. This includes services like gynecology, obstetrics, maternity, and postpartum care , and applies to care received through both VA facilities and the Veterans Community Care Program. The legislation ensures that this direct scheduling option is available at all Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers and clinics offering such care, utilizing various modalities including telephone and online tools. It explicitly prohibits the Secretary from imposing any additional administrative approvals, referrals, or screening steps as a condition for accessing these services. The aim is to streamline access to critical health services for enrolled women veterans by removing existing referral requirements.
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Timeline
Introduced in Senate
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held.
Introduced in Senate
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held.
Armed Forces and National Security
Women Veterans Specialty Care Access Act
USA119th CongressS-3999| Senate
| Updated: 4/29/2026
This bill mandates that the Secretary of Veterans Affairs enable women veterans to directly schedule appointments for specific women's specialty care without requiring a referral from a primary care provider. This includes services like gynecology, obstetrics, maternity, and postpartum care , and applies to care received through both VA facilities and the Veterans Community Care Program. The legislation ensures that this direct scheduling option is available at all Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers and clinics offering such care, utilizing various modalities including telephone and online tools. It explicitly prohibits the Secretary from imposing any additional administrative approvals, referrals, or screening steps as a condition for accessing these services. The aim is to streamline access to critical health services for enrolled women veterans by removing existing referral requirements.