[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Printing Office]
[H.R. 1527 Referred in Senate (RFS)]
2d Session
H. R. 1527
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
September 11, 2008
Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs to conduct a pilot program to permit certain highly
rural veterans enrolled in the health system of the Department of
Veterans Affairs to receive covered health services through providers
other than those of the Department.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Rural Veterans Access to Care Act''.
SEC. 2. PILOT PROGRAM OF ENHANCED CONTRACT CARE AUTHORITY FOR HEALTH
CARE NEEDS OF VETERANS IN HIGHLY RURAL AREAS.
(a) In General.--Section 1703 of title 38, United States Code, is
amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
``(e)(1) The Secretary shall conduct a pilot program which permits
highly rural veterans--
``(A) who are enrolled in the system of patient enrollment
established under section 1705(a) of this title, and
``(B) who reside within Veterans Integrated Service Network
1, 15, 18, and 19,
to elect to receive covered health services for which such veterans are
eligible through a non-Department health-care provider.
``(2) The election under paragraph (1) shall be made by submitting
an application to the Secretary in accordance with such regulations as
the Secretary prescribes. The Secretary shall authorize such services
to be furnished to the veteran pursuant to contracting with such a
provider to furnish such services to such veteran.
``(3) For purposes of this subsection, a highly rural veteran is
one who--
``(A) resides in a location that is--
``(i) more than 60 miles driving distance from the
nearest Department health-care facility providing
primary care services, if the veteran is seeking such
services;
``(ii) more than 120 miles driving distance from
the nearest Department health-care facility providing
acute hospital care, if the veteran is seeking such
care; or
``(iii) more than 240 miles driving distance from
the nearest Department health-care facility providing
tertiary care, if the veteran is seeking such care; or
``(B) in the case of a veteran who resides in a location
less than the distance indicated in clause (i), (ii), or (iii)
of subparagraph (A), as applicable, experiences such hardship
or other difficulties in travel to the nearest appropriate
Department health-care facility that such travel is not in the
best interest of the veteran, as determined by the Secretary
pursuant to regulations prescribed for purposes of this
subsection.
``(4) For purposes of this subsection, a covered health service is
any hospital care, medical service, rehabilitative service, or
preventative health service authorized to be provided by the Secretary
under this chapter or any other provision of law.
``(5) For purposes of this subsection, a health-care provider is
any qualified entity or individual furnishing a covered health service.
``(6) In meeting the requirements of this subsection, the Secretary
shall develop the functional capability to provide for the exchange of
medical information between the Department and non-Department health-
care providers.
``(7) This subsection shall apply to covered health services
provided during the 3-year period beginning on the 120th day after the
date of the enactment of this subsection.
``(8) Not later than the 30th day after the close of each year of
the period described in paragraph (7), the Secretary shall submit a
report to the Committees of Veterans' Affairs of the House of
Representatives and the Senate a report which includes--
``(A) the Secretary's assessment of the program under this
subsection, including its cost, volume, quality, patient
satisfaction, benefit to veterans, and any other findings and
conclusions of the Secretary with respect to such program, and
``(B) any recommendations that the Secretary may have for--
``(i) continuing the program,
``(ii) extending the program to other or all
service regions of the Department, and
``(iii) making the program permanent.''.
(b) Effective Date.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall
implement the amendment made by subsection (a) not later than the 120th
day after the date of the enactment of this Act.
Passed the House of Representatives September 10, 2008.
Attest:
LORRAINE C. MILLER,
Clerk.