Bill Summary
The "Department of Defense and Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Credentialing Integration Act of 2025" is a proposed legislation aimed at improving the credentialing and privileging processes for medical providers within the Department of Defense (DoD) and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The Act mandates that the Secretaries of Defense and Veterans Affairs work together to select a unified system for credentialing and privileging medical providers.
Key provisions include:
1. **Report Submission**: Within 120 days of enactment, both Secretaries must deliver a report detailing the current credentialing systems used by each department, including their scope, data management, interoperability, and limitations.
2. **System Selection**: By January 1, 2027, a single, joint credentialing system must be chosen from existing systems used by the DoD and VA.
3. **System Capabilities**: The selected system must be able to import and share credentialing information seamlessly between the two departments.
4. **Implementation Certification**: By January 1, 2028, both Secretaries are required to certify that the new joint credentialing system is fully operational.
The overarching goal of this legislation is to streamline and enhance the efficiency of the credentialing process for medical providers serving military personnel and veterans, ultimately improving healthcare delivery in these communities.
Possible Impacts
The "Department of Defense and Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Credentialing Integration Act of 2025" could have various impacts on different stakeholders. Here are three examples of how this legislation might affect people:
1. **Medical Providers**: The legislation aims to create a joint uniform credentialing and privileging system for medical providers within the Department of Defense (DoD) and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). This could simplify the credentialing process for healthcare professionals who work in both departments, allowing for easier transfer and recognition of their qualifications. As a result, providers may experience less administrative burden, enabling them to focus more on patient care.
2. **Veterans and Active Duty Service Members**: With the implementation of a unified credentialing system, veterans and active-duty service members may benefit from improved access to healthcare services. A standardized system could enhance the reliability and speed of provider credentialing, leading to shorter wait times for medical appointments and more timely treatments. As a result, the quality and continuity of care for these individuals could improve significantly.
3. **Government Efficiency and Oversight**: The joint effort of the DoD and VA to establish a single credentialing system could lead to better resource allocation and operational efficiency within both departments. By identifying gaps and limitations in the existing systems and working towards a unified approach, the government can ensure that taxpayer funds are utilized more effectively. This could ultimately enhance accountability and oversight of medical services provided to military personnel and veterans.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6662 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 6662
To direct the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs to jointly select a joint uniform credentialing and privileging
system for medical providers, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
December 11, 2025
Mr. Murphy (for himself, Ms. Lee of Nevada, Mr. McCormick, Mr. Jackson
of Texas, Mr. Bergman, Mrs. King-Hinds, Mr. Rouzer, Mr. Guest, Mr.
Higgins of Louisiana, Mr. Turner of Ohio, Mr. Bacon, Mr. Davis of North
Carolina, Mrs. Kiggans of Virginia, and Mr. Onder) introduced the
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services,
and in addition to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, for a period to
be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for
consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the
committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To direct the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs to jointly select a joint uniform credentialing and privileging
system for medical providers, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Department of Defense and Department
of Veterans Affairs Medical Credentialing Integration Act of 2025''.
SEC. 2. JOINT UNIFORM CREDENTIALING AND PRIVILEGING SYSTEM FOR MEDICAL
PROVIDERS AT THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE AND THE DEPARTMENT
OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.
(a) Report.--Not later than 120 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs, in consultation with the Domestic Policy Council,
shall jointly submit to the Committees on Armed Services and Veterans'
Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Senate a report on the
medical provider credentialing and privileging systems in use by each
Department. Such report shall include each of the following:
(1) A description of the scope and scale of each system.
(2) A description of the type of data stored on each
system.
(3) A description of the portability of provider
credentialing and privileging information under each system.
(4) A description of the interoperability between provider
credentialing systems.
(5) A description of the risk management system, adverse
actions, and governance of each system.
(6) A description of the limitations and gaps in the
interoperability and administration of each system.
(7) Recommendations for scaling each system and addressing
gaps in the interoperability and administration of such system,
with the goal of achieving a single, uniform system to be used
by both Departments.
(b) Selection.--Not later than January 1, 2027, the Secretary of
Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in consultation with the
Domestic Policy Council, shall jointly select one system from the
systems in use by the Departments to serve as the joint uniform
credentialing and privileging system for both the Department of Defense
and the Department of Veterans Affairs.
(c) Capability of System.--The Secretary of Defense and the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall ensure that such joint uniform
credentialing and privileging system has the capability to import and
share provider credentialing and privileging information.
(d) Certification of Implementation.--Not later than January 1,
2028, the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs
shall jointly submit to the Committees on Armed Services and Veterans'
Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Senate a written
certificate that such joint uniform credentialing and privileging
system has been implemented and is operational.
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