Skip to main content
S 3163 117th Congress Senate Armed Forces and National Security Rural conditions and development Veterans' medical care Veterans' pensions and compensation

RURAL Exams Act of 2021

Introduced: November 4, 2021 See on congress.gov
Sign in to write a letter Sign in to watch
This bill died when the 117th Congress ended
It never became law before the 117th Congress (2021–2022) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 4 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Dec 15, 2021
Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
Nov 17, 2021
Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held.
Nov 4, 2021
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
Nov 4, 2021
Introduced in Senate
 Ask about this bill AI · grounded in the bill text

Have a question about what this bill does? Ask in plain English; the answer is drawn from the bill's actual text and official record, and it'll tell you when something isn't in the text rather than guess.

AI answers can be imperfect; always confirm against the full bill text.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Reform and Update Rural Access to Local Exams Act of 2021 or the RURAL Exams Act of 2021

This bill updates policies and procedures related to covered medical disability examinations provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and its contractors. Under the bill, covered medical disability examinations are those that are required for purposes of adjudicating specified VA benefits.

First, the bill requires the VA to begin collecting data to improve veterans' access to covered medical disability examinations.

The VA must study rural veterans' access to covered medical disability examinations and submit a plan to improve access.

Additionally, the VA must ensure that contracts for the provision of covered medical disability examinations by contractors include specified elements. Specifically, such contracts must (1) include financial incentives to encourage timeliness in medical disability examination appointments for rural or housebound veterans, (2) include financial disincentives to encourage timeliness, and (3) require contractors to cooperate with inspections.

Finally, the VA must establish a program of periodic inspections of sites, locations, and facilities where medical disability examinations are provided by VA contractors.

What's happening now December 15, 2021

Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
 Cosponsors 1
All 1 Republican 1
R
Moran, Jerry
Kansas · Nov 4, 2021
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 3163: RURAL Exams Act of 2021. 117th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/117-S-3163/
MLA
"S. 3163: RURAL Exams Act of 2021." 117th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/117-S-3163/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 3163, 117th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/117-S-3163/.
Markdown link
[S. 3163: RURAL Exams Act of 2021](https://openamerica.io/bill/117-S-3163/)
Report a problem