1.This Act may be cited as the
Alaska Hero's Card Act of
2011
.
2.Pilot program on
provision of health care to veterans residing in Alaska at non-Department of
Veterans Affairs medical facilities
(a)The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall establish a pilot
program to assess the feasibility and advisability of carrying out a program by
which a covered veteran can, except as provided in subsection (f), receive
necessary hospital care or medical services for any condition at any hospital
or medical facility or from any medical provider eligible to receive payments
under—
(1)the Medicare
program under title XVIII of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395 et
seq.);
(2)the Medicaid
program under title XIX of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.);
(3)the TRICARE
program; or
(4)the Indian health
program.
(b)For purposes of this section, a covered veteran is any
veteran who—
(1)is entitled to
hospital care or medical services under laws administered by the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs;
(2)is located in the
State of Alaska; and
(3)resides at a
location that is located in—
(A)such State;
and
(B)a town, village,
or other community that is not accessible by motor vehicle (as defined in
section 30102 of title 49, United States Code).
(c)The pilot program shall be carried out during the two-year
period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act.
(d)
(1)The cost of any hospital care or medical service provided
under the pilot program shall be borne by the United States from amounts other
than amounts appropriated or otherwise made available for an Indian health
program.
(2)The Secretary shall take measures to ensure that covered
veterans are not billed for the hospital care and medical services they receive
under the pilot program.
(e)In carrying out the pilot program, the Secretary shall issue
to each covered veteran a card to be known as an Alaska Hero
Card
that such veteran may present to an authorized provider to
establish the covered veteran's eligibility for hospital care and medical
services under the pilot program.
(f)The Secretary may establish a list of authorized
providers from whom a covered veteran may receive hospital care and medical
services under the pilot program.
(g)Measures To
ensure quality and safety of care
(1)The Secretary shall take such measures as may be
necessary to ensure that the quality and safety of care provided to veterans
under the pilot program is equal to or better than the quality and safety of
care otherwise provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs.
(2)The measures described in paragraph (1) may include
requirements relating to the following:
(A)Credentialing and
accreditation of providers of hospital care or medical services.
(B)Timely reporting
of access to care.
(C)Timely reporting
of clinical information to the Secretary.
(D)Reporting safety
issues, patient complaints, and patient satisfaction.
(E)Robust quality
programs, including peer review and compliance with industry standards and
requirements.
(3)Providers
certified by Indian Health ServiceFor purposes of the pilot
program, the Secretary shall consider the equality and safety of care provided
by a provider described in subsection (a)(2) who is certified by the Indian
Health Service as a community health aide pursuant to section 119 of the Indian
Health Care Improvement Act (25 U.S.C. 1616l) and who is
providing services within the scope of such certification as being equal to or
better than the quality and safety of care otherwise provided by the
Department.
(h)Nothing
in this section shall be construed to limit any right of recovery available to
an Indian health program under the provisions of section 206 or 405(c) of the
Indian Health Care Improvement Act (25 U.S.C. 1621e and 1645(c)), or any other
Federal or State law.
(i)In
this section:
(1)Hospital care
and medical servicesThe terms hospital care and
medical services have the meanings given such terms in section
1701 of title 38, United States Code.
(2)The term Indian health program has the
meaning given such term in section 4 of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act
(25 U.S.C. 1603).
(3)The
term service-connected has the meaning given such term in section
101 of such title.
(4)The term TRICARE program has the meaning
given such term in section 1072 of title 10, United States Code.