Rural Veterans’ Improved Access to Benefits Act of 2024

This bill makes permanent the authority for the Department of Veterans Affairs to use non-Department physicians under contract to perform disability examinations for veterans' benefits claims.

Sec. 2, Permanent authority for contract physicians to perform VA disability examinations: This section adds a new law (section 5103B) to title 38 that permanently authorizes the Under Secretary for Benefits to arrange for medical examinations required for disability claims to be performed by private physicians under contract. Contract health care professionals must have a current unrestricted license and not be barred from practicing in any state, and they may conduct examinations in any state regardless of other licensure laws. The costs of these examinations, including travel and incidental expenses, are to be paid from funds available for compensation and pensions. The Secretary must also set up a way for contract physicians to send the VA any evidence the applicant provides during the exam. This section ends a previous pilot program on contract exams and requires the Secretary to report to Congress within three years on the cost, timeliness, and thoroughness of these exams.