Rural Veterans’ Improved Access to Benefits Act of 2026

This bill amends existing laws to expand and extend temporary licensure rules for contract health care professionals who perform medical disability exams for the Department of Veterans Affairs, and requires a report on the program. Sec. 2, Improvements to temporary licensure requirements for contract health care professionals: This section expands the definition of eligible health care professionals to include any person eligible for a Veterans Health Administration position who has a current, unrestricted license, is not barred from practicing in any state, and is performing duties under a VA contract. It delays the sunset of this expanded authority from five years after the 2020 act's enactment to September 30, 2031. It also updates a conforming amendment to replace a list of specific professions with the broader term 'health care professionals'. Finally, it requires the VA Secretary to submit a report to Congress within 15 months of enactment, covering the number, cost, timeliness, legal adequacy, location, and types of professionals for exams conducted under this authority, as well as any errors.