117 S682 IS: Strengthening and Amplifying Vaccination Efforts to Locally Immunize all Veterans and Every Spouse Act U.S. Senate 2021-03-10 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

II117th CONGRESS1st SessionS. 682IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATESMarch 10, 2021Mr. Tester (for himself, Mr. Boozman, Mr. Moran, Mr. Blumenthal, Mr. Sanders, Mr. Tillis, Mr. Brown, Mrs. Blackburn, Ms. Sinema, Ms. Hassan, Mr. Tuberville, Mr. Coons, Mr. Cramer, and Mr. Rounds) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' AffairsA BILLTo authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to furnish a vaccine for COVID–19 to certain individuals who are not enrolled in the patient enrollment system of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Strengthening and Amplifying Vaccination Efforts to Locally Immunize all Veterans and Every Spouse Act or the SAVE LIVES Act.

2.

Authority of Secretary of Veterans Affairs to furnish COVID–19 vaccine to certain individuals not enrolled in patient enrollment system of Department of Veterans Affairs

(a)

In general

The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may furnish a vaccine for COVID–19 to a covered individual during the COVID–19 public health emergency.(b)

Prioritization

In furnishing vaccines for COVID–19 under the laws administered by the Secretary, the Secretary shall—(1)prioritize the vaccination of veterans who are enrolled in the patient enrollment system, veterans who receive hospital care and medical services pursuant to subsection (c)(2) of section 1705 of title 38, United States Code, and accompanying caregivers of such veterans before the vaccination of covered individuals not otherwise described in this paragraph; and(2)only furnish vaccines for COVID–19 to covered individuals under this section to the extent that such vaccines are available.(c)

Timing of vaccines provided to spouses of veterans

To the extent practicable, the Secretary may offer a vaccine for COVID–19 under this section to the spouse of a veteran to permit the provision of the vaccine to the spouse near the same time that the veteran receives such vaccine from the Department of Veterans Affairs.(d)

Vaccine allocation

It is the sense of Congress that, to the extent practicable based on the current national supply chain, the Secretary of Health and Human Services should adjust the allocation for the Department of Veterans Affairs for the vaccine for COVID–19 based on the additional eligibility of covered individuals under this section. (e)

Definitions

In this section:(1)

Accompanying caregiver

The term accompanying caregiver means a caregiver described in subparagraph (D), (E), or (F) of paragraph (2) who is accompanying a veteran who is receiving a vaccine for COVID–19 furnished by the Department. (2)

Covered individual

The term covered individual means any of the following individuals:(A)A veteran who is not eligible to enroll in the patient enrollment system.(B)A veteran who is eligible for care under section 1724 of title 38, United States Code.(C)A beneficiary under section 1781 of such title.(D)A family caregiver of a veteran participating in the program of comprehensive assistance for family caregivers under section 1720G(a) of such title.(E)A caregiver of a veteran participating in the program of general caregiver support services under section 1720G(b) of such title.(F)A caregiver of a veteran participating in the Medical Foster Home Program, Bowel and Bladder Program, Home Based Primary Care Program, or Veteran Directed Care Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs.(G)A spouse of a veteran.(3)

Covered public health emergency

The term covered public health emergency means an emergency with respect to COVID–19 declared by a Federal, State, or local authority.(4)

COVID–19

The term COVID–19 means the coronavirus disease 2019. (5)

Patient enrollment system

The term patient enrollment system means the system of annual patient enrollment of the Department of Veterans Affairs established and operated under section 1705(a) of title 38, United States Code.(6)

Veteran

The term veteran has the meaning given that term in section 101(2) of title 38, United States Code.