This bipartisan bill, introduced by Sens. Blackburn and Hassan, would let women veterans schedule specialty care appointments directly — without needing a referral from a VA primary care doctor first.
From policy text
“The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall ensure that any covered veteran may directly schedule an appointment for women's specialty care, including through the Veterans Community Care Program under section 1703 of title 38, United States Code, without requiring a referral from a primary care provider of the Department of Veterans Affairs.”
The specialty care covered by the bill includes gynecology, obstetrics, maternity care, and postpartum care — the core types of healthcare specific to women.
From policy text
“The term ``women's specialty care'' means gynecology care, obstetrics care, maternity care, and postpartum care.”
Women veterans could book these appointments through VA medical centers, clinics, phone, online scheduling tools, or any other method the VA uses for specialty care scheduling.
From policy text
“The Secretary shall ensure that direct scheduling under subsection (a) is available-- (1) through each medical center or clinic of the Department that offers women's specialty care; and (2) via telephone, online scheduling tools, and any other modality used by the Department for scheduling of specialty care.”
The bill explicitly bans the VA from adding any extra approval steps, referrals, or screenings as a condition for women veterans to access this care.
From policy text
“The Secretary may not require any additional approval, referral, or screening step as a condition of a covered veteran accessing women's specialty care.”
The bill applies to women veterans enrolled in the VA's patient enrollment system who are already eligible for women's specialty care — it does not expand who qualifies, just removes barriers to scheduling.
From policy text
“The term ``covered veteran'' means a woman veteran enrolled in the system of annual patient enrollment of the Department of Veterans Affairs established and operated under section 1705(a) of title 38, United States Code, who is eligible for the receipt of women's specialty care under the laws administered by the Secretary.”
