Timely Electronic Health Record Transfers for Transitioning Servicemembers Act of 2026

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [H.R. 9865 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 9865

To direct the Secretary of Defense to submit a report and establish standards on the timeliness of providing electronic health records to members of the Armed Forces separating from active duty, and for other purposes.

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IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

July 22, 2026

Mr. Neguse (for himself, Mr. Bergman, and Mrs. Dingell) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services

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A BILL

To direct the Secretary of Defense to submit a report and establish standards on the timeliness of providing electronic health records to members of the Armed Forces separating from active duty, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Timely Electronic Health Record Transfers for Transitioning Servicemembers Act of 2026''.

SEC. 2. REPORT AND STANDARDS ON TIMELINESS OF ELECTRONIC HEALTH RECORDS DURING TRANSITION FROM THE ARMED FORCES.

(a) Report.-- (1) Requirement.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report on the timeliness of providing members of the Armed Forces who are separating from active duty with a copy of the electronic health records of the members. (2) Elements.--The report under paragraph (1) shall include the following, with respect to the 1-year period preceding the date of the report: (A) The average number of days following separation from active duty for a member to receive the electronic health records of the member. (B) The most number of days a member has waited to receive such records. (C) An explanation for delays in providing members such records. (b) Standards.--Not later than 270 days after the date on which the Secretary submits the report under subsection (a)(1), the Secretary shall establish standards to ensure that a member of the Armed Forces who is separating from active duty receives the electronic health records of the member within a reasonable period. (c) Definitions.--In this section: (1) The term ``congressional defense committees'' has the meaning given such term in section 101(a) of title 10, United States Code. (2) The term ``reasonable period'', with respect to the standards established under subsection (b), means a period that the Secretary of Defense determines appropriate after taking into account-- (A) the findings of the report under subsection (a)(1); and (B) the views of members of the Armed Forces who are separating from active duty, veterans, and other individuals the Secretary determines appropriate. <all>