VA Lodging Opens Up: TRICARE Families Traveling for Care Can Now Use Fisher Houses, Space Permitting

The Fisher House Availability Act of 2025 is a straightforward, common-sense update that expands who can stay in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) temporary lodging facilities—often known as Fisher Houses. These facilities provide free or low-cost housing near medical centers for veterans and military families during times of treatment.

Who Gets the Keys Now?

Previously, access was tightly controlled. This bill, however, updates Section 1708 of title 38, U.S. Code, to allow two new groups to use these houses on a space-available basis. First, it includes certain TRICARE beneficiaries who also qualify for VA benefits (called “covered beneficiaries”) when they have to travel a long distance for medical care or services at a non-VA facility. Second, and crucially, it allows the family members or support people accompanying those beneficiaries to stay as well. Think of a military spouse needing specialized care far from home—this bill ensures their caregiver or family can stay close by without having to shell out for expensive hotels.

The Real-World Impact on Caregivers

This change is huge for people juggling medical travel and family responsibilities. Imagine a National Guard member’s child needing treatment at a specialized hospital 300 miles away. Before this, they might have struggled to find affordable lodging. Now, if there’s a Fisher House nearby and it has an open room, they can stay there. For a working family, eliminating the $150-$200 per night hotel bill when facing an already stressful medical situation is a massive relief. The law also clearly defines what a “Fisher House” is—specifically those built and donated by the Fisher House Foundation—which helps clarify what facilities fall under this new rule.

The Catch: 'Space-Available' and the VA’s Homework

While this is a clear win for expanding access, the bill hinges on two important details. First, all this new access is on a “space-available basis.” This means if the house is full of existing VA patients and their families, the TRICARE families are out of luck. The VA isn't getting a sudden influx of new housing, so this could increase competition for limited rooms, especially at popular medical centers. The bill doesn't address facility expansion, only eligibility expansion. The second detail is that the VA is now required to set up specific criteria for who gets access under these new provisions. This is the VA’s chance to get it right: they need to create clear, fair rules so that access isn't a toss-up. If they don't, we could see inconsistent application across different VA facilities, leading to frustration for those already traveling under duress. Ultimately, this bill is a positive step toward supporting military families during medical crises, but its success depends entirely on how the VA manages the increased demand on existing resources.