The Care for COFA Veterans Act expands health care access for veterans living in three island nations in the Pacific—Palau, the Marshall Islands, and the Federated States of Micronesia—that have compacts of free association with the United States. Currently, the Department of Veterans Affairs has limited ability to serve veterans in these locations, and this bill authorizes the VA to provide hospital care and medical services for both service-connected and non-service-connected disabilities, either directly or through contracts with local providers. The bill also allows the VA to reimburse travel costs for veterans in these countries seeking treatment for service-connected disabilities. Within one year of enactment, the VA must conduct outreach to the three island governments, work with the State Department to resolve legal and regulatory issues around licensing and pharmaceutical deliveries, and submit a report to Congress on implementation needs and costs. The legislation does not specify funding amounts but requires the VA to assess options for delivering care, including through telehealth, contracts with local clinics, and potentially constructing or leasing facilities in these locations.
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