[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4673 Engrossed in House (EH)]
<DOC>
117th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 4673
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for the automatic
enrollment of eligible veterans in patient enrollment system of
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. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Ensuring Veterans' Smooth Transition
Act'' or the ``EVEST Act''.
SEC. 2. AUTOMATIC ENROLLMENT OF ELIGIBLE VETERANS IN PATIENT ENROLLMENT
SYSTEM OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.
(a) In General.--Section 1705 of title 38, United States Code, is
amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
``(d)(1) The Secretary shall enroll each veteran described in
subsection (a) in the patient enrollment system under this section by
not later than 60 days after receiving the information described in
paragraph (3) with respect to the veteran.
``(2)(A) Not later than 60 days after enrolling a veteran under
paragraph (1), the Secretary shall provide to the veteran--
``(i) notice of the veteran's enrollment;
``(ii) instructions for how the veteran may opt out of such
enrollment, at the election of the veteran; and
``(iii) instructions for how the veteran may elect to
enroll at a later date.
``(B) In carrying out subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall
consider using, to the extent practical, mass texting capabilities
through mobile telephones.
``(C) Any notice or instructions required to be provided under this
paragraph shall be provided in the form of a physical copy delivered by
mail and, to the extent practical, in the form of an electronic copy
delivered by electronic mail.
``(3) The information described in this paragraph is the
appropriate information concerning eligibility for enrollment in the
patient enrollment system under this section, as provided by the
Defense Manpower Data Center of the Department of Defense, or such
successor entity of the Department.''.
(b) Applicability.--Subsection (d) of section 1705 of title 38,
United States Code, as added by subsection (a), shall apply to a
veteran who is discharged or separated from the Armed Forces on or
after the date that is 90 days before the date of the enactment of this
Act and with respect to whom the Secretary receives the information
described in paragraph (3) of such subsection on or after the date of
the enactment of this Act.
(c) Electronic Certificates of Eligibility for Department of
Veterans Affairs Patient Enrollment System.--Not later than August 1,
2022, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall ensure that any veteran
who is eligible for automatic enrollment in the patient enrollment
system under subsection (d) of section 1705 of title 38, United States
Code, as added by subsection (a), is able to access--
(1) an electronic version of the certificate of eligibility
showing the veteran's eligibility for such enrollment; and
(2) an electronic mechanism by which the veteran may opt
out of such enrollment.
(d) Provision of Notice and Information.--The notice and
instructions required to be provided under subsection (d)(2) of section
1705 of title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), shall
be provided in accordance with the established procedures of the
Department of Veterans Affairs with respect to the provision of similar
types of notices and instructions.
(e) Report on Automatic Enrollment.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the first
veteran is enrolled in the patient enrollment system of the
Department of Veterans Affairs under subsection (d) of section
1705 of title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection
(a), the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the
enrollment process under such subsection. Such report shall
include each of the following:
(A) A discussion of any anticipated challenges that
occurred in implementing such subsection, the
strategies used to address such challenges, and the
effectiveness of such strategies.
(B) A discussion of any unanticipated challenges
that occurred in implementing such subsection, the
strategies used to address such challenges, and the
effectiveness of such strategies.
(C) Any additional information the Secretary
determines appropriate, including information that may
be useful to other Federal departments and agencies
considering the implementation of similar automatic
enrollment programs.
(2) Form of report.--The report required under paragraph
(1) shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may include a
classified annex.
SEC. 3. GAO REPORT ON NOTICE OF AUTOMATIC ENROLLMENT IN PATIENT
ENROLLMENT SYSTEM OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.
Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this
Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to
Congress a report containing the results of a study to determine the
best methods for the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide notice
under paragraph (2) of subsection (d) of section 1705 of title 38,
United States Code, as added by section 2. In making such
determination, the Comptroller General shall consider needs of veterans
based on--
(1) age;
(2) residence in urban areas; and
(3) residence in rural areas.
Passed the House of Representatives January 20, 2022.
Attest:
Clerk.
117th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 4673
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for the automatic
enrollment of eligible veterans in patient enrollment system of
Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.