S.Amdt. 2745

1. Adds SEC. 314. PROGRAM OF ENHANCED CONTRACT CARE AUTHORITY FOR HEALTH CARE NEEDS OF VETERANS on page 61, between lines 5 and 6

   Adds a sectionPrinted page

   Inserted: SEC. 314. PROGRAM OF ENHANCED CONTRACT CARE AUTHORITY FOR HEALTH CARE NEEDS OF VETERANS.

   Inserted: (a) In General.--Chapter 17 is amended by inserting after section 1703 the following new section:

   Inserted: "Sec. 1703A. Program of enhanced contract care authority for health care needs of veterans

   Inserted: "(a) Program Required.--(1) The Secretary shall conduct a program under which the Secretary provides covered health services to covered veterans through qualifying non-Department health care providers.

   Inserted: "(2) The Secretary shall commence the conduct of the program on October 1, 2014.

   Inserted: "(b) Covered Veterans.--For purposes of the program under this section, a covered veteran is any veteran who--

   Inserted: "(1) is--

   Inserted: "(A) enrolled in the system of patient enrollment established and operated under section 1705(a) of this title as of the date of the commencement of the program under subsection (a)(2); or

   Inserted: "(B) eligible for health care under section 1710(e)(3) of such title; and

   Inserted: "(2) resides in a location that is--

   Inserted: "(A) more than 60 minutes driving distance from the nearest Department health care facility providing primary care services, if the veteran is seeking such services;

   Inserted: "(B) more than 120 minutes driving distance from the nearest Department health care facility providing acute hospital care, if the veteran is seeking such care; or

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   Inserted: "(C) more than 240 minutes driving distance from the nearest Department health care facility providing tertiary care, if the veteran is seeking such care.

   Inserted: "(c) Covered Health Services.--For purposes of the program under this section, a covered health service with respect to a covered veteran is any hospital care, medical service, rehabilitative service, or preventative health service that is authorized to be provided by the Secretary to the veteran under this chapter or any other provision of law.

   Inserted: "(d) Qualifying Non-department Health Care Providers.--For purposes of the program under this section, an entity or individual is a qualifying non-Department health care provider of a covered health service if the Secretary determines that the entity or individual is qualified to furnish such service to a covered veteran under the program.

   Inserted: "(e) Locations.--The program shall be carried out within-- "(1) of the areas at which the Secretary was carrying out the pilot program established under section 403 of the Veterans' Mental Health and Other Care Improvements Act of 2008 (Public Law 110-387; 38 U.S.C. 1703 note) on the day before the date of the enactment of the Comprehensive Veterans Health and Benefits and Military Retirement Pay Restoration Act of 2014, those areas at which the Secretary has determined that such pilot program was carried out successfully; and

   Inserted: "(2) any additional area that the Secretary may select for purposes of the program.

   Inserted: "(f) Election.--A covered veteran seeking a covered health service from a qualifying non-Department health care provider under the program under this section shall submit to the Secretary an application therefor in such form, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary shall specify for purposes of the program.

   Inserted: "(g) Provision of Services Through Contract.--The Secretary shall provide covered health services to veterans under the program under this section through contracts with qualifying non-Department health care providers for the provision of such services.

   Inserted: "(h) Exchange of Medical Information.--In conducting the program under this section, the Secretary shall develop and utilize a functional capability to provide for the exchange of appropriate medical information between the Department and qualifying non-Department health care providers providing health services under the program.

   Inserted: "(i) Reports.--Not later than the 30 days after the end of each year in which the program under this section is conducted, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee of Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives a report that includes--

   Inserted: "(1) the assessment of the Secretary of the program during the preceding year, including its cost, volume, quality, patient satisfaction, benefit to veterans, and such other findings and conclusions with respect to the program as the Secretary considers appropriate; and

   Inserted: "(2) such recommendations as the Secretary considers appropriate regarding--

   Inserted: "(A) the continuation of the program; and

   Inserted: "(B) extension of the program to other or all Veterans Integrated Service Networks of the Department.

   Inserted: "(j) Source of Funds.--In carrying out the program under this section, such sums as may be necessary to carry out the program shall be derived from amounts appropriated or otherwise made available to the Office of Rural Health of the Department of Veterans Affairs after the date of the enactment of the Comprehensive Veterans Health and Benefits and Military Retirement Pay Restoration Act of 2014.".

   Inserted: (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 17 is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 1703 the following new item:

   Inserted: "1703A. Program of enhanced contract care authority for health care needs of veterans.".

   Inserted: (c) Conforming Amendment.--Section 403 of the Veterans' Mental Health and Other Care Improvements Act of 2008 (Public Law 110-387; 38 U.S.C. 1703 note) is repealed.

   Original wording

   On page 61, between lines 5 and 6, insert the following:

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As printed