[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1921 Introduced in House (IH)]






108th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 1921

 To amend title 38, United States Code, to increase from one month to 
three months the quantity of supply of certain prescriptions furnished 
    by the Department of Veterans Affairs to veterans with chronic 
                              conditions.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 1, 2003

  Mr. Filner introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
                     Committee on Veterans' Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To amend title 38, United States Code, to increase from one month to 
three months the quantity of supply of certain prescriptions furnished 
    by the Department of Veterans Affairs to veterans with chronic 
                              conditions.

    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 ``Continuity of Care for Veterans with 
Chronic Conditions Act''.

SEC. 2. THREE-MONTH SUPPLY OF CERTAIN MEDICATIONS FOR VETERANS WITH 
              CHRONIC CONDITIONS.

    (a) Increase in Amount of Medication Supplied.--Chapter 17 of title 
38, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 1722A the 
following new section:
``Sec. 1722B. Quantity of certain medications furnished
    ``(a) In furnishing to a veteran by prescription a medication 
described in subsection (b), the Secretary shall furnish not less than 
a 90-day supply of such medication if the physician prescribing the 
medication determines--
            ``(1) that the veteran has a chronic condition for which 
        that medication is medically appropriate; and
            ``(2) that the veteran has not, over a prior course of that 
        medication for a minimum period to be determined by the 
        Secretary by regulation, demonstrated any symptoms of abuse of 
        that medication.
    ``(b) This section applies with respect to medications that are 
controlled substances within the meaning of section 102 of the 
Controlled Substances Act.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of 
such chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 
1722A the following new item:

``1722B. Quantity of certain medications furnished.''.
    (c) Effective Date.--Section 1722B of title 38, United States Code, 
as added by subsection (a), shall apply with respect to prescriptions 
written after the end of the 30-day period beginning on the date of the 
enactment of this Act.
                                 <all>