[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1546 Introduced in House (IH)]







110th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 1546

 To authorize members of the Armed Forces receiving outpatient care at 
   Walter Reed Army Medical Center to receive such care through the 
        Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 15, 2007

 Mr. Hall of New York (for himself, Mr. Boucher, Ms. Corrine Brown of 
Florida, Mr. Crowley, Mr. Hare, Mr. Higgins, Mr. Hinchey, Mr. Holt, Ms. 
 Hooley, Mrs. Maloney of New York, Ms. Norton, Mr. Rahall, Mr. Space, 
  and Mr. Welch of Vermont) introduced the following bill; which was 
  referred to the Committee on Armed Services, and in addition to the 
    Committee on Veterans' Affairs, for a period to be subsequently 
   determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such 
 provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To authorize members of the Armed Forces receiving outpatient care at 
   Walter Reed Army Medical Center to receive such care through the 
        Department of Veterans Affairs, 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. OUTPATIENT CARE FROM DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS FOR 
              MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES RECEIVING SUCH CARE AT WALTER 
              REED ARMY MEDICAL CENTER.

    (a) Option To Receive Care.--The Secretary of Defense shall, upon 
the election of any member of the Armed Forces receiving outpatient 
care at or through Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Maryland, transfer 
such member to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for the receipt of 
outpatient care from the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
    (b) Information on Available Care.--In order to assist members of 
the Armed Forces described in subsection (a) in making the election 
authorized by that subsection, the Secretary of Defense and the 
Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall jointly provide such members such 
information on the nature and quality of outpatient care services 
available at applicable facilities of the Department of Veterans 
Affairs as such members may require to make the election.
    (c) Provision of Care.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
        provide outpatient care to each member of the Armed Forces 
        making an election under subsection (a) at the facility of the 
        Department of Veterans Affairs capable of providing such care 
        that is located nearest to the permanent duty station or 
        residence (as selected by such member) of such member.
            (2) Cost.--The cost of the provision of outpatient care to 
        members of the Armed Forces under this section shall be borne 
        by the Department of Defense.
    (d) Memorandum of Understanding.--The Secretary of Defense and the 
Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall enter into a memorandum of 
understanding in order to carry out this section. The memorandum shall 
include mechanisms for payment by the Department of Defense of the 
costs of care under this section in accordance with subsection (c)(2).
    (e) Military Status.--The transfer of a member of the Armed Forces 
under this section shall not effect the military status of such member, 
or the eligibility or entitlement of such member to pay, allowances, 
and other benefits as a member of the Armed Forces under law.
    (f) Termination.--
            (1) In general.--This section shall cease to be in effect 
        60 days after the date on which the Secretary of Defense 
        submits to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and 
        the House of Representatives a certification of each the 
        following:
                    (A) That the Department of Defense completes the 
                processing of status claims of members of the Armed 
                Forces who receive outpatient care at Walter Reed Army 
                Medical Center not later than 60 days after the date on 
                which such members present such claims.
                    (B) That the outpatient care buildings at Walter 
                Reed Army Medical Center--
                            (i) are structurally sound, free of 
                        infestation, and free of mold;
                            (ii) provide heat and air-conditioning; and
                            (iii) have working plumbing.
                    (C) That the case manager positions and 
                psychological counselor positions at Walter Reed Army 
                Medical Center are fully staffed for outpatient care.
            (2) Continuation of care.--Notwithstanding the termination 
        of this section under paragraph (1), the Secretary of Veterans 
        Affairs shall continue to provide outpatient care after the 
        date of termination to members of the Armed Forces who were 
        transferred before the date of termination in accordance with 
        the provisions of this section.
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