S.Amdt. 2793

1. Adds SEC. 330. AVAILABILITY OF FULL-SERVICE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS MEDICAL CENTERS IN CERTAIN STATES OR PROVISION OF COMPARABLE SERVICES THROUGH CONTRACT WITH OTHER HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS IN THE STATE on page 76, between lines 8 and 9

   Adds a sectionPrinted page

   Inserted: SEC. 330. AVAILABILITY OF FULL-SERVICE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS MEDICAL CENTERS IN CERTAIN STATES OR PROVISION OF COMPARABLE SERVICES THROUGH CONTRACT WITH OTHER HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS IN THE STATE.

   Inserted: (a) In General.--Chapter 17 is amended by inserting after section 1706 the following new section:

   Inserted: "Sec. 1706A. Management of health care: access to full-service Department medical centers in certain States or

   Inserted: comparable services through contract

   Inserted: "(a) Requirement.--With respect to each of the 48 contiguous States, the Secretary shall ensure that veterans in a State who are eligible for hospital care and medical services under section 1710 of this title have access--

   Inserted: "(1) to at least one full-service Department medical center in such State; or

   Inserted: "(2) to hospital care and medical services comparable to the services typically provided by full-service Department medical centers through contract with other health care providers in such State.

   Inserted: "(b) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in subsection (a) shall be construed to limit the ability of the Secretary to provide enhanced care to an eligible veteran who resides in one State in a Department medical center in another State.

   Inserted: "(c) Limitation on Requirement.--Subsection (a) shall be effective in any fiscal year only to the extent and in the amount provided in advance in appropriations Acts.

   Inserted: "(d) Full-Service Department Medical Center Defined.--In this section, the term 'full-service Department medical center' means a facility of the Department that provides medical services, including hospital care, emergency medical services, and surgical care rated by the Secretary as having a surgical complexity level of standard.".

   Inserted: (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 1706 the following new item:

   Inserted: "1706A. Management of health care: access to full-service Department medical centers in certain States or comparable services through contract.".

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   Inserted: (c) Report on Implementation.--Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to Congress a report describing the extent to which the Secretary has complied with the requirement imposed by section 1706A of title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), including the effect of compliance with such requirement on improving the quality and standards of care provided to veterans.

   Original wording

   On page 76, between lines 8 and 9, insert the following:

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As printed