H.R.3944 - Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, Agriculture, and Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2026 119th Congress (2025-2026) Section Summary:

Veterans Health Administration medical services For necessary expenses for furnishing, as authorized by law, inpatient and outpatient care and treatment to beneficiaries of the Department of Veterans Affairs and veterans described in section 1705(a) of title 38, United States Code, including care and treatment in facilities not under the jurisdiction of the Department, and including medical supplies and equipment, bioengineering services, food services, and salaries and expenses of healthcare employees hired under title 38, United States Code, assistance and support services for caregivers as authorized by section 1720G of title 38, United States Code, loan repayments authorized by section 604 of the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010 (Public Law 111–163; 124 Stat. 1174; 38 U.S.C. 7681 note), monthly assistance allowances authorized by section 322(d) of title 38, United States Code, grants authorized by section 521A of title 38, United States Code, and administrative expenses necessary to carry out sections 322(d) and 521A of title 38, United States Code, and hospital care and medical services authorized by section 1787 of title 38, United States Code; $59,858,000,000, plus reimbursements, which shall become available on October 1, 2026, and shall remain available until September 30, 2027: Provided, That, of the amount made available on October 1, 2026, under this heading, $2,000,000,000 shall remain available until September 30, 2028: Provided further, That of the $75,039,000,000 to become available on October 1, 2025, previously appropriated under this heading in the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Act, 2025 (division A of Public Law 119–4), $15,889,000,000 is hereby rescinded: Provided further, That, notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall establish a priority for the provision of medical treatment for veterans who have service-connected disabilities, lower income, or have special needs: Provided further, That, notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall give priority funding for the provision of basic medical benefits to veterans in enrollment priority groups 1 through 6: Provided further, That, notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs may authorize the dispensing of prescription drugs from Veterans Health Administration facilities to enrolled veterans with privately written prescriptions based on requirements established by the Secretary: Provided further, That the implementation of the program described in the previous proviso shall incur no additional cost to the Department of Veterans Affairs: Provided further, That the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall ensure that sufficient amounts appropriated under this heading for medical supplies and equipment are available for the acquisition of prosthetics designed specifically for female veterans: Provided further, That nothing in section 2044(e) of title 38, United States Code, may be construed as limiting amounts that may be made available under this heading for fiscal years 2026 and 2027 in this or prior Acts. medical community care For necessary expenses for furnishing health care to individuals pursuant to chapter 17 of title 38, United States Code, at non-Department facilities, $38,700,000,000, plus reimbursements, which shall become available on October 1, 2026, and shall remain available until September 30, 2027: Provided, That, of the amount made available on October 1, 2026, under this heading, $2,000,000,000 shall remain available until September 30, 2028. medical support and compliance For necessary expenses in the administration of the medical, hospital, nursing home, domiciliary, construction, supply, and research activities, as authorized by law; administrative expenses in support of capital policy activities; and administrative and legal expenses of the Department for collecting and recovering amounts owed the Department as authorized under chapter 17 of title 38, United States Code, and the Federal Medical Care Recovery Act (42 U.S.C. 2651 et seq.), $12,000,000,000, plus reimbursements, which shall become available on October 1, 2026, and shall remain available until September 30, 2027: Provided, That, of the amount made available on October 1, 2026, under this heading, $350,000,000 shall remain available until September 30, 2028: Provided further, That, of the $12,700,000,000 to become available on October 1, 2025, previously appropriated under this heading in the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Act, 2025 (division A of Public Law 119–4), $610,000,000 is hereby rescinded. medical facilities For necessary expenses for the maintenance and operation of hospitals, nursing homes, domiciliary facilities, and other necessary facilities of the Veterans Health Administration; for administrative expenses in support of planning, design, project management, real property acquisition and disposition, construction, and renovation of any facility under the jurisdiction or for the use of the Department; for oversight, engineering, and architectural activities not charged to project costs; for repairing, altering, improving, or providing facilities in the several hospitals and homes under the jurisdiction of the Department, not otherwise provided for, either by contract or by the hire of temporary employees and purchase of materials; for leases of facilities; and for laundry services; $3,000,000, which shall be in addition to funds previously appropriated under this heading that become available on October 1, 2025; and, in addition, $11,700,000,000, plus reimbursements, which shall become available on October 1, 2026, and shall remain available until September 30, 2027: Provided, That, of the amount made available on October 1, 2026, under this heading, $500,000,000 shall remain available until September 30, 2028. medical and prosthetic research For necessary expenses in carrying out programs of medical and prosthetic research and development as authorized by chapter 73 of title 38, United States Code, $943,000,000, plus reimbursements, shall remain available until September 30, 2027: Provided, That the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall ensure that sufficient amounts appropriated under this heading are available for prosthetic research specifically for female veterans, and for toxic exposure research.