S.Amdt. 4576

SA 4576. Mr. KENNEDY submitted an amendment intended to be proposed
to amendment SA 3867 submitted by Mr. Reed and intended to be proposed
to the bill H.R. 4350, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2022
for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military
construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy,
to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for
other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

At the end of subtitle G of title X, add the following:

SEC. 1064. REIMBURSEMENT OF PHYSICIANS BY DEPARTMENT OF
VETERANS AFFAIRS DURING CERTAIN DISASTERS AND
EMERGENCIES.

(a) In General.--During a period in which a covered
disaster or emergency has been declared, the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs shall reimburse covered physicians for
audio-only telehealth visits under the laws administered by
the Secretary at the same rate as in-person visits.
(b) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Covered disaster or emergency.--The term ``covered
disaster or emergency'' means the following:
(A) A disaster or emergency specified in section 1785(b) of
title 38, United States Code.
(B) A public health emergency declared by the Secretary of
Health and Human Services under section 319 of the Public
Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 247d).
(C) A domestic emergency declared by the Secretary of
Homeland Security.
(2) Covered physician.--The term ``covered physician''
means a physician who is not a physician of the Department of
Veterans Affairs who provides care to veterans under--
(A) the Veterans Community Care Program under section 1703
of title 38, United States Code; or
(B) any other authority under the laws administered by the
Secretary.
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