WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Angus King (I-ME) and Jerry Moran (R-KS), members of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee (SVAC), are introducing bipartisan legislation to permanently authorize a successful pilot program to expand access to medical disability exams for veterans filing claims for a service-connected disability. The legislation would allow any eligible health care professional with a current unrestricted license and a contract with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to provide medical disability exams to veterans across state lines. This builds off a pilot program established by Congress in 2020 that expanded requirements and allowed certain licensed medical professionals to provide contract medical disability examinations across state lines for the VA.

“We have an obligation to our veterans to return the service they gave to us while minimizing bureaucracy and delay,” said Senator King. “By allowing veterans to visit any VA approved licensed medical professional to perform their benefits exam, we can help alleviate the patient backlogs and ensure veterans receive the benefits they’ve earned in a timely manner. This bipartisan bill is yet another way we can express our gratitude to the brave men and women who have served.”

“Greater access to medical disability exams will enable more veterans to receive timely, high-quality care and the benefits they have earned,” said Senator Moran. “As more veterans file for VA care and benefits following their military service, this legislation will help increase the number of licensed, health care professionals who are certified to provide medical disability exams, providing quick and accurate exams for veterans.”

Full text of the legislation can be found here.

Representing one of the states with the highest rates of military families and veterans per capita, Senator King is a staunch advocate for America’s servicemembers and veterans. A member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee (SVAC), he works to ensure American veterans receive their earned benefits and that the VA is properly implementing various programs such as the PACT Act, the State Veterans Homes Domiciliary Care Flexibility Act, and the John Scott Hannon Act. Recently, Senator King introduced bipartisan legislation to help reduce suicides among veterans by providing free secure firearm storage to veterans. In addition, he helped pass the Veterans COLA Act, which increased benefits for 30,000 Maine veterans and their families. Senator King has also introduced bipartisan legislation to improve care coordination for veterans who rely on both VA health care and Medicare. Earlier this year, he cosponsored the bipartisan Major Richard Star Act that would provide more combat-injured veterans with their full earned benefits.

###