Summary#
This bill changes how the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) sets and pays mileage for veterans and other beneficiaries who travel for VA health care. It removes a fixed per-mile amount and instead requires the VA mileage rate to be at least as high as the government employee mileage rate set by the General Services Administration (GSA). The bill also requires the VA to pay a mileage-based allowance within 90 days after a properly submitted request.
- Main change: replace the fixed 41.5 cents-per-mile figure with a rate that is equal to or greater than the GSA mileage reimbursement rate for federal employees.
- Timely payment: VA must pay mileage-based allowances within 90 days of a properly submitted request.
- Scope: applies to VA “Beneficiary Travel” payments for health-related travel.
- Conforming edits: removes the old dollar figure and adjusts related language in current law.
- What is unclear: when a new GSA rate must take effect for VA payments, and how “properly submitted” requests will be defined in VA rules.
What it means for you#
- Veterans and other VA health-care beneficiaries: If you travel to VA medical appointments and ask for mileage reimbursement, the per-mile rate you receive would be at least the same as the GSA rate used for federal employees. You should also get approved mileage payments within 90 days of submitting a proper claim.
- Caregivers and family members who drive beneficiaries: The reimbursement you receive for driving a beneficiary to VA care would follow the same rule as above.
- VA local offices and staff: They must process mileage claims faster (within 90 days) and apply a GSA-linked rate. Offices may need to change their claim-processing steps and payments systems.
- Taxpayers and the federal budget: The bill could raise VA spending if the GSA rate is higher than the current VA rate. No cost estimate is provided in the material supplied.
Expenses#
No publicly available information.
- The bill would likely raise VA benefit payments when the GSA rate is higher than the old VA rate, increasing program costs.
- Meeting the 90-day payment rule could increase administrative costs. VA may need more staff, updated software, or new processes to track and pay claims on time.
- The bill does not say where additional money would come from or include a fiscal estimate in the provided material.
Proponents' View#
- The bill appears intended to ensure mileage reimbursement keeps up with actual vehicle costs by tying VA payments to the GSA rate that reflects current federal mileage practice.
- Requiring payment within 90 days could reduce financial strain on veterans who must pay travel costs up front.
- Tying the rate to an existing federal benchmark (GSA) avoids setting a fixed dollar amount that could become outdated.
Opponents' View#
- One concern is increased cost: if the GSA rate is higher than the old VA rate, the VA program will pay out more, and no funding source is specified.
- The bill does not explain how quickly VA must adopt changes when GSA updates its rate. This could cause timing or conversion issues.
- “Properly submitted” is not defined in the bill; that could allow differing interpretations and disputes about eligibility or timeliness.
- The 90-day payment requirement may create administrative strain. It is unclear whether VA currently has the staffing or systems to meet that deadline without added resources.