[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4575 Introduced in House (IH)]







106th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 4575

  To amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the provision of 
 inpatient medical care services by the Department of Veterans Affairs 
to veterans in areas remote from Department of Veterans Affairs medical 
                                centers.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 25, 2000

Mr. Weldon of Florida (for himself, Mrs. Capps, Mr. McCollum, Mr. Wamp, 
   and Mr. Hill of Montana) introduced the following bill; which was 
             referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the provision of 
 inpatient medical care services by the Department of Veterans Affairs 
to veterans in areas remote from Department of Veterans Affairs medical 
                                centers.

    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 ``Veterans Service Improvement Act of 
2000''.

SEC. 2. COORDINATION OF BENEFITS PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--Chapter 17 of title 38, United States Code, is 
amended by inserting after section 1724 the following new section:
``Sec. 1725. Coordination of benefits program
    ``(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary may 
carry out a program in not more than four geographic areas of the 
United States to improve access to and coordination of inpatient care 
of eligible veterans. Under such program, the Secretary, subject to 
subsection (b), may, as a secondary payor, pay certain costs described 
in subsection (b) that a veteran would otherwise incur.
    ``(b)(1) In carrying out the program described in subsection (a), 
the Secretary may, as a secondary payor, pay reasonable costs of 
hospital care and services furnished in a non-Department hospital to a 
veteran participating in the program. Subject to paragraph (2), such 
costs may include costs for deductibles and coinsurance and reasonable 
costs of services not covered by the applicable health plan of the 
veteran to the extent such services are covered under this title.
    ``(2) In the case of a veteran who under section 1710 of this title 
is required to pay a copayment to the United States for hospital care 
furnished the veteran under that section, the Secretary shall reduce 
any amount that the Secretary would otherwise pay under this subsection 
for costs of hospital care and services furnished to that veteran in a 
non-Department hospital by the amount of the copayment that the veteran 
would be required to pay the United States if such care and services 
were furnished in a Department medical center.
    ``(c) A veteran may participate in the program if the veteran--
            ``(1) is enrolled to receive medical services from an 
        outpatient clinic operated by the Secretary;
            ``(2) in the judgment of the Secretary (A) requires such 
        hospital care and services for a nonservice-connected 
        condition, and (B) could not receive such services from a 
        clinic operated by the Secretary; and
            ``(3) elects to receive such care under a health plan 
        (other than under this title) under which such individual is 
        entitled to receive such care.
    ``(d) As part of the program, the Secretary shall coordinate the 
care being furnished directly by the Secretary and care furnished under 
the program in non-Department hospitals to veterans participating in 
the program.
    ``(e)(1) In designating geographic areas in which to establish the 
program under subsection (a), the Secretary shall ensure that--
            ``(A) the areas designated are geographically dispersed; 
        and
            ``(B) at least 60 percent of the veterans who reside in a 
        designated area reside at least two hours driving distance from 
        the closest medical center (which provides hospital care) 
        operated by the Secretary.
    ``(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1)(B), the Secretary may designate 
at least one area which is in proximity to a Department medical center 
which, as a result of a change in mission of that center, does not 
provide hospital care.
    ``(f)(1) Not later than 12 months after implementing the program 
under subsection (a) at any one site, the Secretary shall submit to the 
Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and House of 
Representatives a report on the experience in implementing such 
program.
    ``(2) Not later than three years after implementing the program at 
any one site, the Secretary shall submit to such committees a report on 
the first two years' experience in operating the program. The report 
shall include--
            ``(A) a comparison of the costs incurred by the Secretary 
        under the program and the cost experience for the calendar year 
        preceding establishment of the program at each such site;
            ``(B) an assessment of the satisfaction of the participants 
        in the program; and
            ``(C) an analysis of the effect of the program on access 
        and quality of care for veterans.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of 
such chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 
1724 the following new item:

``1725. Coordination of benefits program.''.
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