I 112th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 6393 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES September 13, 2012 Mr. Barber (for himself and Mr. Platts) 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 amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to consider the best interest of the veteran when determining whether the veteran should receive certain contracted health care, to amend the Wounded Warrior Act to improve access to certain medical care for former members of the Armed Forces with severe injuries or illnesses, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Veterans Health Access Act.

2.

Determination of contract care authority for health care needs of veterans

Section 1703 of title 38, United States Code, is amended— (1)in subsection (a), by striking When Department facilities and everything that follows through required, and inserting In any case described in subsection (e)(1),; and (2)by adding at the end the following new subsection: (e)

Eligibility

(1)A case described in this paragraph is any case— (A)when Department facilities are not capable of furnishing— (i)economical hospital care or medical services because of geographical inaccessibility; or (ii)the care or services required; or (B)in which a physician of the Department determines that it is in the best interest of a veteran to receive hospital or medical services furnished in a non-Department facility in accordance with subsection (a). (2)The Secretary shall determine whether or not to furnish to a veteran care or services in a non-Department facility pursuant to this section by the date that is 30 days after the date on which the veteran requests such care or services. .

3.

Access to certain medical care for former members of the Armed Forces with severe injuries or illnesses

Section 1631(a) of the Wounded Warrior Act (title XVI of Public Law 110–181; 10 U.S.C. 1071 note) is amended— (1)in paragraph (1), by striking not reasonably available and all that follows through the period and inserting the following: that is not reasonably available to such former member in the Department of Veterans Affairs or is determined by the physician of the former member to be in the best interest of the former member.; and (2)in paragraph (2), by striking December 31, 2012 and inserting December 31, 2016.