[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1146 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

112th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 1146

   To establish a pilot program under which veterans in the State of 
Alaska may receive health care benefits from the Department of Veterans 
 Affairs at non-Department medical facilities, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              June 6, 2011

  Mr. Begich introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
             referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
   To establish a pilot program under which veterans in the State of 
Alaska may receive health care benefits from the Department of Veterans 
 Affairs at non-Department medical facilities, 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 ``Alaska Hero's Card Act of 2011''.

SEC. 2. PILOT PROGRAM ON PROVISION OF HEALTH CARE TO VETERANS RESIDING 
              IN ALASKA AT NON-DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS MEDICAL 
              FACILITIES.

    (a) In General.--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) Covered Veteran.--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) Duration of Pilot.--The pilot program shall be carried out 
during the two-year period beginning on the date of the enactment of 
this Act.
    (d) Cost of Care and Service.--
            (1) In general.--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) No billing of veterans.--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) Alaska Hero Card.--In carrying out the pilot program, the 
Secretary shall issue to each covered veteran a card to be known as a 
``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) Authorized Providers.--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) In general.--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) Specific measures.--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 service.--For 
        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) Savings.--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) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Hospital care and medical services.--The terms 
        ``hospital care'' and ``medical services'' have the meanings 
        given such terms in section 1701 of title 38, United States 
        Code.
            (2) Indian health program.--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) Service-connected.--The term ``service-connected'' has 
        the meaning given such term in section 101 of such title.
            (4) TRICARE program.--The term ``TRICARE program'' has the 
        meaning given such term in section 1072 of title 10, United 
        States Code.
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