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S 3311

Veterans Affairs Peer Review Neutrality Act of 2025

119th Congress Introduced by John Boozman and 2 co-sponsors

The bill requires peer reviewers in the VHA to recuse themselves if biased or involved in care, and to have controversial cases reassessed by neutral committees at other facilities

Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held.
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Bill Summary · S 3311

Summary: Veterans Affairs Peer Review Neutrality Act of 2025 (S. 3311)

Date: Introduction in the 119th Congress; action history shows hearings in 2026 and initial referral in 2025

1) Purpose and Intent

  • The bill, titled the Veterans Affairs Peer Review Neutrality Act of 2025, aims to eliminate conflicts of interest in the peer review process used to manage the quality of care in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA).
  • It seeks to ensure that peer reviews of care provided by VHA health care providers are conducted with neutrality, objectivity, and independence.

2) Key Provisions and Changes

Creation of a New Peer Review Standard (Section 7311B)

  • Establishes a new statutory section within Subchapter II, Chapter 73 of Title 38, U.S. Code called “7311B. Elimination of conflicts of interest in peer review for quality management of care.”
  • Requirements for conflict-free participation:
    • Any individual conducting peer review for quality management of care at a VHA facility, or serving on a peer review committee, must withdraw from a case review if: 1) They have direct involvement with the care under review, or 2) They cannot conduct an objective, impartial, accurate, and informed review.
  • Neutral reassessment of controversial cases:
    • For care provided by a provider who is a member of the facility’s peer review committee, initial peer reviews must be evaluated, discussed, and assigned a final level of review by a neutral peer review committee at another VHA facility.
  • Administrative changes:
    • The federal code table of sections is to be amended to insert 7311B after 7311A, formally codifying this neutrality requirement.

3) Who and What is Affected

  • Affected Entities:
    • Veterans Health Administration facilities and their personnel involved in quality-management peer reviews.
    • Peer review committees responsible for evaluating the quality of care.
  • Affected Individuals:
    • Health care providers and committee members who might otherwise participate in reviewing cases involving care in which they had involvement or could have biased perspectives.
  • Beneficiaries:
    • Veterans receiving care, by promoting more impartial assessments of care quality and reducing potential biases in peer review outcomes.

4) Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Legislative Path:
    • Introduced in the Senate on December 2, 2025, by Senator Peters, with co-sponsors Senators Boozman and Slotkin.
    • Referred to the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs for consideration.
    • Action history indicates subsequent hearings in 2026, reflecting committee examination and potential markup.
  • Implementation:
    • If enacted, the new section would be codified in Title 38, United States Code, creating a binding federal standard for neutrality in VHA peer reviews.
    • Facilities would need to establish procedures to ensure initial peer reviews involving potentially conflicted providers are evaluated by neutral committees at different facilities.

5) Notable Details

  • Short title: The Act may be cited as the “Veterans Affairs Peer Review Neutrality Act of 2025.”
  • The bill explicitly addresses both the disqualification of conflicted participants and the creation of neutral review pathways to ensure integrity in quality-management decisions.

This summary covers the bill’s core purpose, the main mechanisms it proposes to achieve neutrality in VHA peer reviews, the populations affected, and the key procedural steps and timeline for introduction and consideration. If you’d like, I can compare this bill to current 38 U.S.C. provisions on peer review to highlight specific legal gaps it intends to fill.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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