Bill Would Let VA Fast-Track Health Care Partnerships

Rep. Morgan McGarvey's bipartisan INNOVATE Act would give the Veterans Health Administration Pentagon-style contracting authority to work with outside innovators.

Updated on Nov. 13, 2026 in Healthcare

Bill Would Let VA Fast-Track Health Care Partnerships

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Should Congress give the VA faster contracting powers to speed up veteran health care?

Rep. Morgan McGarvey introduced the bipartisan INNOVATE Act (H.R. 10984) on November 10, 2026, co-sponsored by Rep. Morgan Luttrell, R-Texas. The bill would give the Department of Veterans Affairs the same ability to fast-track contracts with startups, researchers and health care companies that the Pentagon has.

Why it matters

Sponsors say the VA's current contracting rules prevent it from keeping pace with changing veteran health care demands, and partnerships can take months or years to finalize. The VA serves more than 9 million enrolled veterans, making any change to how it adopts new technology a national concern.

The bill was introduced November 10, 2026, and has been referred to the House Committee on Veterans Affairs, which has not scheduled a hearing or vote. Whether the Office of Innovation and expedited hiring authorities will advance remains unknown.

The players

Department of Veterans Affairs

The federal agency that operates the largest integrated health care system in the United States and serves more than 9 million enrolled veterans.

Rep. Morgan McGarvey

A Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives who introduced the bipartisan INNOVATE Act.

Rep. Morgan Luttrell

A Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Texas who co-sponsored the INNOVATE Act.

The details

The INNOVATE Act would create an Office of Innovation within the Veterans Health Administration to invest in new veteran health care technology and allow it to use expedited hiring authorities. Endorsements include The American Legion, AMVETS, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Vietnam Veterans of America and Wounded Warrior Project.

November 10, 2026: Rep. Morgan McGarvey introduces the INNOVATE Act (H.R. 10984) in the House.

Policy Parallel

The INNOVATE Act would extend to the Veterans Health Administration the expedited contracting authority the Pentagon already uses to work with startups and researchers. If enacted, it would apply that Defense Department model to veteran health care.

If enacted, the bill could shorten the time it takes veterans' health care providers to adopt new technologies. The bill has not yet advanced past committee referral, so no changes to veteran care are in effect.

The takeaway

Veteran health care depends in part on how quickly federal agencies can adopt new tools, so proposals that change contracting speed can affect the care veterans receive. Readers can track whether the bill advances through the House Committee on Veterans Affairs.