1.This Act may be cited as the
Veterans Access to Care
Act
.
2.Designation of
medical facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs as health professional
shortage areas
(a)Section 332(a)(1) of the Public Health
Service Act (42 U.S.C. 254e(a)(1)) is amended in the second sentence by
inserting and medical facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs
(including State homes, as defined in section 101(19) of title 38, United
States Code)
after (42 U.S.C. 1395x(aa)),
.
(b)
(1)Section 338A(b) of
the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 254l(b)) is amended—
(A)in paragraph (3), by striking
and
;
(B)in paragraph (4),
by striking the period and inserting ; and
; and
(C)by adding at the
end the following new paragraph:
(5)not be participating in the Department of
Veterans Affairs Health Professionals Educational Assistance Program under
chapter 76 of title 38, United States
Code.
.
(2)Section 338B(b) of the Public Health Service Act (42
U.S.C. 254l–1(b)) is amended—
(A)in paragraph (2), by striking
and
;
(B)in paragraph (3),
by striking the period and inserting ; and
; and
(C)by adding at the
end the following new paragraph:
(4)not be participating in the Department of
Veterans Affairs Health Professionals Educational Assistance Program under
chapter 76 of title 38, United States
Code.
.
(c)In carrying out the National Health Service
Corps Program under subpart II of part D of title III of the Public Health
Service Act (42 U.S.C. 254d et seq.), the Secretary of Health and Human
Services shall consult with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs with respect to
health professional shortage areas that are medical facilities of the
Department of Veterans Affairs (including State homes, as defined in section
101(19) of title 38, United States Code).
(d)The amendments made by
this section shall take effect on the date that is 90 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act.