The TRAVEL Act of 2026 authorizes the Department of Veterans Affairs to temporarily assign VA physicians to serve as traveling doctors in U.S. territories and possessions, including Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, the Virgin Islands, and others. Physicians can be assigned for periods of up to one year at a time to provide health care to veterans in these locations, either at VA facilities or other approved medical facilities. The bill allows the VA Secretary to assign multiple physicians to different territories as needed and requires these traveling physicians to coordinate with local non-VA medical providers to ensure quality care for veterans. In addition to their regular pay, these traveling physicians will receive relocation or retention bonuses similar to those offered under existing VA programs to incentivize their service in these underserved areas. The legislation makes technical corrections to related VA payment provisions in federal law.
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