[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5593 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 5593

    To amend title 38, United States Code, to include eyeglass lens 
fittings in the category of medical services authorized to be furnished 
 to veterans under the Veterans Community Care Program, and for other 
                               purposes.


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                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 26, 2025

  Ms. Maloy (for herself and Mr. Van Orden) introduced the following 
     bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs

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                                 A BILL


 
    To amend title 38, United States Code, to include eyeglass lens 
fittings in the category of medical services authorized to be furnished 
 to veterans under the Veterans Community Care Program, 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. INCLUSION OF EYEGLASS LENS FITTINGS IN MEDICAL SERVICES 
              AUTHORIZED TO BE FURNISHED UNDER VETERANS COMMUNITY CARE 
              PROGRAM; REPORT.

    (a) In General.--Subparagraph (C) of paragraph (6) of section 1701 
of title 38, United States Code, is amended by inserting ``services, 
fittings for eyeglass lenses,'' after ``Optometric''.
    (b) Regulations.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall establish 
policies and procedures and prescribe regulations to carry out the 
amendment made by subsection (a). Under such regulations, the Secretary 
shall ensure that a veteran eligible to receive medical services from a 
non-Department of Veterans Affairs provider under section 1703 of title 
38, United States Code, can schedule an appointment for a fitting for 
eyeglass lenses at such a provider in geographic proximity to the 
veteran.
    (c) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report 
that includes--
            (1) a statement of the status of the implementation of the 
        amendment made by subsection (a);
            (2) a summary of any challenges faced with respect to such 
        implementation;
            (3) a strategy to mitigate such challenges, if applicable; 
        and
            (4) an assessment of the benefits for veterans resulting 
        from such amendment.
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