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S. 115Senate115th Congress (2017-2019)In Committee

Veterans Transplant Coverage Act

A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide for an operation on a live donor for purposes of conducting a transplant procedure for a veteran, and for other purposes.

Sponsored by Dean HellerSen. Dean Heller (R-NV)
Introduced January 12, 2017

AI-Generated Summary

Updated April 15, 2026 at 11:40 AM UTC

The Veterans Transplant Coverage Act changes federal law to let the Department of Veterans Affairs cover the cost of a live‑donor operation needed for a veteran’s transplant, even when the donor does not qualify for VA health benefits. It also obligates the VA to provide any related medical care to the donor before and after the procedure. The bill affects veterans who are eligible for VA‑funded transplants and the individuals who donate organs to them.

Key Provisions

  • Allows the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to arrange and pay for a surgery on a live donor so that a veteran can receive a transplant, even if the donor is not otherwise eligible for VA health care.
  • Requires the VA to provide any necessary medical care or services to the live donor before and after the transplant surgery.

Legislative Activity

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2 earlier actions
SenateCommittee Latest Action

Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 115-320.

Veterans' Affairs Committee

July 11, 2017

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

January 12, 2017

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

Veterans' Affairs Committee

January 12, 2017

SenateCommittee

Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 115-320.

Veterans' Affairs Committee

July 11, 2017

Bill Text

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Introduced in SenateIssued January 12, 2017

II

115th CONGRESS

1st Session

S. 115

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

January 12, 2017

Mr. Heller introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs

A BILL

To amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide for an operation on a live donor for purposes of conducting a transplant procedure for a veteran, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Veterans Transplant Coverage Act.

2.

Authorization to provide for operations on live donors for purposes of conducting transplant procedures for veterans

(a)

In general

Subchapter VIII of chapter 17 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section:

1788.

Transplant procedures with live donors and related services

(a)

In general

In a case in which a veteran is eligible for a transplant procedure from the Department, the Secretary may provide for an operation on a live donor to carry out such procedure for such veteran notwithstanding that the live donor may not be eligible for health care from the Department.

(b)

Other services

The Secretary shall furnish to a live donor any care or services before and after conducting the transplant procedure under subsection (a) that may be required in connection with such procedure.

.

(b)

Clerical amendment

The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 17 of such title is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 1787 the following new item:

1788. Transplant procedures with live donors and related services.

.