PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 111-76.
Congressional Research Service
Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Mar 30, 2009
Rural Veterans Health Care Access and Quality Act of 2009 - Removes the $44,000-per-individual limit on authorized payments by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs under the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health professionals education debt reduction program. Requires notice to potential employees of their eligibility and selection for participation in such program.
Includes VA facilities in the list of medical facilities eligible for the assignment of participants under the National Health Service Corps Scholarship Program.
Requires the Director of the VA's Office of Rural Health to develop an Office five-year strategic plan.
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Authorizes the use of volunteer counselors as part of the Vet Center program.
Directs the Secretary to carry out a program of teleconsultation for the provision of remote mental health and traumatic brain injury assessments in VA facilities not otherwise able to provide such assessments without contracting out or reimbursing other providers for such services.
Requires the Secretary, for each Veterans Integrated Services Network, to negotiate with each party that has contracts to provide services at more than one community-based outpatient clinic in that Network to consolidate such contracts. Directs the Secretary to designate a rural outreach coordinator at each such clinic at which not less than 50% of the veterans enrolled reside in a highly rural area. Provides for peer review of health care services and patient records within the Network.
Authorizes reimbursement for veterans' beneficiaries for air travel when it is the only practical way to reach a VA health care facility.
Directs the Secretary to carry out a pilot program on incentives for physicians who assume responsibilities of primary care and mental health services to veterans at community hospitals in health professional shortage areas.
People & committees
Sen. Akaka, Daniel K. [D-HI] · D–HI
Legislative record
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Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 111-76.
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. (text of measure as introduced: CR S3989-3991)
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3988-3989)
Introduced in Senate
Primary sources
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Source last updated: Aug 14, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
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