[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1527 Introduced in House (IH)]







110th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 1527

 To amend title 38, United States Code, to allow highly rural veterans 
enrolled in the health system of the Department of Veterans Affairs to 
 receive covered health services through providers other than those of 
                the Department, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 14, 2007

    Mr. Moran of Kansas (for himself and Mr. Latham) introduced the 
   following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' 
                                Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To amend title 38, United States Code, to allow highly rural veterans 
enrolled in the health system of the Department of Veterans Affairs to 
 receive covered health services through providers other than those of 
                the Department, and for other purposes.

    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 ``Rural Veterans Access to Care Act''.

SEC. 2. ENHANCED CONTRACT CARE AUTHORITY FOR HEALTH CARE NEEDS OF 
              VETERANS IN HIGHLY RURAL AREAS.

    (a) Contract Care for Highly Rural Veterans.--Section 1703 of title 
38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following 
new subsection:
    ``(e)(1) A highly rural veteran who is enrolled in the system of 
patient enrollment established under section 1705(a) of this title may 
elect to receive covered health services for which such veteran is 
eligible through a non-Department health-care provider. Such an 
election shall be made by submission to the Secretary of an application 
in accordance with such regulations as the Secretary prescribes. The 
Secretary shall authorize such services to be furnished to such veteran 
pursuant to contracting with such a provider to furnish such services 
to such veteran.
    ``(2) For purposes of this subsection, a highly rural veteran is 
one who--
            ``(A) resides in a location that is--
                    ``(I) more than 60 miles driving distance from the 
                nearest Department health-care facility providing 
                primary care services, if the veteran is seeking such 
                services;
                    ``(ii) more than 120 miles driving distance from 
                the nearest Department health-care facility providing 
                acute hospital care, if the veteran is seeking such 
                care; or
                    ``(iii) more than 240 miles driving distance from 
                the nearest Department health-care facility providing 
                tertiary care, if the veteran is seeking such care; or
            ``(B) in the case of a veteran who resides in a location 
        less than the distance indicated in clause (i), (ii), or (iii) 
        of subparagraph (A), as applicable, experiences such hardship 
        or other difficulties in travel to the nearest appropriate 
        Department health-care facility that such travel is not in the 
        best interest of the veteran, as determined by the Secretary 
        pursuant to regulations prescribed for purposes of this 
        subsection.
    ``(3) For purposes of this subsection, a covered health service is 
any hospital care, medical service, rehabilitative service, or 
preventative health service authorized to be provided by the Secretary 
under this chapter or any other provision of law.
    ``(4) For purposes of this subsection, a health-care provider is 
any qualified entity or individual furnishing a covered health service.
    ``(5) In meeting the requirements of this subsection, the Secretary 
shall--
            ``(A) consult with the Secretary of Health and Human 
        Services to establish a partnership to coordinate care for 
        rural veterans conducted at critical access hospitals, 
        community health centers, and rural health clinics; and
            ``(B) expand the use of fee-basis care through which 
        private hospitals, health-care facilities, and other third-
        party health-care providers are reimbursed.''.
    (b) Effective Date.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
implement the amendment made by subsection (a) not later than October 
1, 2008.

SEC. 3. AUTHORITY OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS PHARMACIES TO 
              DISPENSE MEDICATIONS TO HIGHLY RURAL VETERANS ON 
              PRESCRIPTIONS WRITTEN BY NON-DEPARTMENT PRACTITIONERS.

    Section 1712 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding 
at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(f) Subject to section 1722A of this title, the Secretary shall 
furnish to a highly rural veteran, as described in section 1703(e)(2) 
of this title, such drugs and medicines as may be ordered on 
prescription of a duly licensed physician in the treatment of any 
illness or injury of the veteran. Such drugs and medicines shall be 
furnished in the same manner and subject to the same conditions as 
apply to a prescription written by a Department physician.''.
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