Requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to partner each of its medical facilities with a medical facility in a rural area, with the goal of expanding veterans' access to care in rural communities.

• Requires each VA medical facility to enter into a partnership with a medical facility in a rural area, which may include telehealth, shared space or equipment, training, care coordination, or emergency transportation.
• Allows the Secretary to waive the partnership requirement for a facility for up to five years, after notifying Congress at least 48 hours before the waiver takes effect, and allows renewal only after a documented need review.
• Requires a briefing to Congress within 180 days of enactment on the implementation plan, and a report every two years on partnership results, including veteran enrollment and service-connected disability compensation in the affected regions.
• Requires existing facilities to comply or obtain a waiver within three years of enactment, and new facilities within three years of first seeing patients. Defines rural areas using the Department of Agriculture's Rural-Urban Commuting Areas coding system.

• Veterans' Affairs Committee (Senate)

Armed Forces and National Security