Sense of Congress

It is the sense of Congress that— (1) veterans who are authorized by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to receive health care in the community must not lose the high quality, safety, care coordination, and other veteran-centric elements that the health care system of the Department of Veterans Affairs provides; (2) many veterans receive health care from both the Department and community providers but the lack of care coordination among the Department and community providers when veterans receive purchased care places veterans at risk for poor health outcomes and results in inefficient use of finite health care resources; (3) veteran-centric care coordination is associated with improved patient outcomes, as Department and non-Department health care teams coordinate and collaborate to provide the best care for veterans; and (4) if the Secretary purchases care for veterans from the private sector, such care must be secured in a cost-effective manner, in a way that complements the larger health care system of the Department by using industry standards for care and costs.

Reauthorization and modification of pilot program of enhanced contract care authority for health care needs of veterans

Section 403 of the Veterans' Mental Health and Other Care Improvements Act of 2008 (Public Law 110–387; 38 U.S.C. 1703 note) is amended— (1) in subsection (a)— (A) in paragraph (2), by striking 120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act and inserting 90 days after the date of the enactment of the Veterans Health Care Access Received Closer to Home Act of 2014; and (B) by amending paragraph (4) to read as follows:

(4)

Program locations

The Secretary shall carry out the pilot program at locations in the following Veterans Integrated Service Networks (and such other locations as the Secretary considers appropriate): (A) Veterans Integrated Service Network 1. (B) Veterans Integrated Service Network 6. (C) Veterans Integrated Service Network 15. (D)Veterans Integrated Service Network 18. (E) Veterans Integrated Service Network 19.

;

(2) by amending subsection (b) to read as follows:

(b)

Covered veterans

For purposes of the pilot program under this section, a covered veteran is any rural or highly rural veteran who—(1)is—(A)enrolled in the system of patient enrollment established under section 1705(a) of title 38, United States Code;(B)eligible for health care under the laws administered by the Secretary and enrolls in such system of patient enrollment not later than 30 days after the veteran begins receiving covered health services under the pilot program; or(C)eligible for health care under section 1710(e)(3) of such title; and(2)resides in a location that is—(A)more than 60 minutes driving distance from the nearest Department health care facility providing primary care services, if the veteran is seeking such services;(B)more than 120 minutes driving distance from the nearest Department health care facility providing acute hospital care, if the veteran is seeking such care; or(C)more than 240 minutes driving distance from the nearest Department health care facility providing tertiary care, if the veteran is seeking such care.

;

(3) by redesignating subsection (h) as subsection (j); (4) by inserting after subsection (g) the following new subsections:

(h)

Appointments

In carrying out the pilot program under this section, the Secretary shall ensure that medical appointments for veterans occur during the 30-day period beginning on the date that is 15 days after the date on which the appointment is requested. (i)

Outreach

The Secretary shall ensure that a veteran eligible for the pilot program under this section is informed of such program.

; and

(5)in paragraph (2)(B) of subsection (j), as redesignated by paragraph (3) of this section, by striking the semicolon at the end and inserting ; and.