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H.R. 1445House115th Congress (2017-2019)In Committee

VREASA

Sponsored by Mike CoffmanRep. Mike Coffman (R-CO)
Introduced March 9, 2017

AI-Generated Summary

Updated April 15, 2026 at 1:32 PM UTC

The Veterans Reimbursement for Emergency Ambulance Services Act amends the law governing veterans’ benefits to clarify when the Department of Veterans Affairs will pay for emergency ambulance rides. It sets out specific conditions under which a veteran’s ambulance use is considered an emergency eligible for reimbursement, affecting veterans who need urgent medical transport.

Key Provisions

  • Adds a new paragraph to 38 U.S.C. §1725(c) that defines emergency ambulance services for reimbursement purposes.
  • Reimbursement applies when the ambulance request is due to a sudden medical condition that a reasonable layperson would view as hazardous to life or health if delayed, or likely to cause serious jeopardy or serious impairment.
  • The veteran must be taken to the closest and most appropriate medical facility capable of treating the emergency condition.
  • The rule takes effect for ambulance services provided on or after January 1, 2017.

Legislative Activity

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4 earlier actions
HouseCommittee Latest Action

Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Health Subcommittee

March 21, 2017

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

March 9, 2017

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

Veterans' Affairs Committee

March 9, 2017

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.

Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs Subcommittee

March 9, 2017

HouseCommittee

Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs Discharged.

Veterans' Affairs Committee

March 21, 2017

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Health Subcommittee

March 21, 2017

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued March 9, 2017

I

115th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 1445

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

March 9, 2017

Mr. Coffman (for himself, Mr. Abraham, Ms. DeLauro, and Mr. Takano) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs

A BILL

To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for the circumstances under which the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall provide reimbursement for emergency ambulance services.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Veterans Reimbursement for Emergency Ambulance Services Act or the VREASA.

2.

Secretary of Veterans Affairs reimbursement for emergency ambulance services

(a)

In general

Section 1725(c) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

(5)

In delineating the circumstances under which reimbursement may be made under this section for ambulance services for an individual, the Secretary shall treat such services as emergency services for which reimbursement may be made under this section if the Secretary determines that—

(A)

the request for ambulance services was made as a result of the sudden onset of a medical condition of such a nature that a prudent layperson who possesses an average knowledge of health and medicine—

(i)

would have reasonably expected that a delay in seeking immediate medical attention would have been hazardous to the life or health of the individual; or

(ii)

could reasonably expect the absence of immediate medical attention to result in placing the health of the individual in serious jeopardy, the serious impairment of bodily functions, or the serious dysfunction of any bodily organ or part; and

(B)

the individual is transported to the closest and most appropriate medical facility capable of treating such emergency medical condition.

.

(b)

Effective date

The amendment made by subsection (a) shall apply with respect to ambulance services provided on or after January 1, 2017.