HR6662-119

What This Bill Does

The Department of Defense and Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Credentialing Integration Act directs DOD and VA to move toward a joint credentialing and privileging system for medical providers. Within 120 days, the Secretaries of Defense and Veterans Affairs, in consultation with the Domestic Policy Council, must report to the Armed Services and Veterans Affairs Committees on the credentialing and privileging systems each department uses. The report must describe scope, scale, data stored, portability, interoperability, risk management, adverse actions, governance, limitations, and recommendations for scaling and closing gaps with the goal of a single uniform system. By January 1, 2027, DOD and VA must jointly select one system from department systems to serve as the joint uniform credentialing and privileging system. They must ensure the system can import and share provider credentialing and privileging information. By January 1, 2028, they must certify to Congress that the joint system has been implemented and is operational.

Who Benefits and How

Military medical providers and VA medical providers benefit if credentialing data becomes more portable between departments. Service members, veterans, and patients benefit if provider onboarding and cross-department care support become faster and more reliable. DOD and VA health systems benefit from reduced duplication and clearer provider credentialing governance. Congressional committees benefit from the 120-day report and 2028 operational certification. Medical facility administrators benefit from a shared system that can import and share provider data.

Who Bears the Burden and How

Defense and VA Secretaries must report, select a system by January 1, 2027, implement it, and certify operation by January 1, 2028. DOD and VA credentialing offices must inventory existing systems, assess data, risk management, adverse actions, and interoperability gaps, and migrate or integrate provider information. Domestic Policy Council staff must be consulted. IT and privacy staff must address data-sharing, governance, cybersecurity, and implementation risks. Providers may need updated records or credentialing data during system transition.

Key Provisions

• Requires DOD and VA to report within 120 days on existing medical provider credentialing and privileging systems.
• Requires the report to assess data, portability, interoperability, risk management, adverse actions, governance, limitations, and gaps.
• Directs DOD and VA to select one joint uniform credentialing and privileging system by January 1, 2027.
• Requires the joint system to import and share provider credentialing and privileging information.
• Requires a congressional certification by January 1, 2028 that the joint system is implemented and operational.