IIB
115th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2601
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
November 8, 2017
Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs
AN ACT
To amend the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 to improve the access of veterans to organ transplants, and for other purposes.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the Veterans Increased Choice for Transplanted Organs and Recovery Act of 2017
or the VICTOR Act of 2017
.
Organ transplants under the Veterans Choice Program
Section 101(b)(2) of the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 (Public Law 113–146; 38 U.S.C. 1701 note) is amended—
in subparagraph (C)(ii), by striking or
;
in subparagraph (D)(ii)(II)(dd), by striking the period and inserting ; or
; and
by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
requires an organ or bone marrow transplant; and
has, in the opinion of the primary health care provider of the veteran, a medically compelling reason to travel outside the region of the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network, established under section 372 of the National Organ Transplantation Act (Public Law 98–507; 42 U.S.C. 274), in which the veteran resides to receive such transplant at a medical facility of the Department; or
faces an unusual or excessive burden in receiving such transplant at a medical facility of the Department, including—
geographical challenges;
environmental factors, including roads that are not accessible to the general public, traffic, or hazardous weather;
a medical condition of the veteran that affects the ability to travel; or
other factors the Secretary determines appropriate, including the preference of the veteran to receive such transplant at a non-Department facility.
.
Effective date
The amendments made by this Act shall take effect on the later of—
October 1, 2018; and
the date of the enactment of this Act.
Passed the House of Representatives November 7, 2017.
Karen L. Haas,
Clerk