[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1952 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

<DOC>






118th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 1952

 To amend title 38, United States Code, to expand eligibility for care 
   from the Department of Veterans Affairs to include members of the 
    reserve components of the Armed Forces, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             June 13, 2023

  Mr. Sanders (for himself, Mr. Booker, and Mr. Welch) introduced the 
 following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on 
                           Veterans' Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To amend title 38, United States Code, to expand eligibility for care 
   from the Department of Veterans Affairs to include members of the 
    reserve components of the Armed Forces, 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 ``Reserve Component Healthcare Access 
and Expansion Act''.

SEC. 2. EXPANSION OF HEALTH CARE FROM DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS TO 
              INCLUDE MEMBERS OF THE RESERVE COMPONENTS OF THE ARMED 
              FORCES WHO ARE NOT ON ACTIVE ORDERS.

    (a) Expansion of Care.--
            (1) In general.--Section 1789 of title 38, United States 
        Code, is amended to read as follows:
``Sec. 1789. Health care for members of the reserve components of the 
              Armed Forces
    ``(a) In General.--The Secretary (subject to subsection (b)) shall 
furnish hospital care and medical services, including mental health 
services, to any member of the reserve components of the Armed Forces 
during any period in which the member is not entitled to benefits under 
TRICARE Prime (as defined in section 1072(14) of title 10).
    ``(b) Limitation.--The requirement in subsection (a) shall be 
effective in any fiscal year only to the extent and in the amount 
provided in advance in appropriations Acts for such purpose.
    ``(c) Consultation With Secretary of Defense.--The Secretary shall 
carry out this section in consultation with the Secretary of 
Defense.''.
            (2) Clerical amendment.--The table of sections at the 
        beginning of subchapter VIII of chapter 17 of such title is 
        amended by striking the item relating to section 1789 and 
        inserting the following new item:

``1789. Health care for members of the reserve components of the Armed 
                            Forces.''.
    (b) Enrollment in Patient Enrollment System.--
            (1) Priority for enrollment.--Section 1705(a) of title 38, 
        United States Code, is amended--
                    (A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by 
                striking ``enrollment of veterans'' and inserting 
                ``enrollment of individuals under such system''; and
                    (B) in paragraph (7)--
                            (i) by striking ``Veterans'' and inserting 
                        ``(A) Veterans''; and
                            (ii) by adding at the end the following new 
                        subparagraph:
            ``(B) Members of the reserve components of the Armed Forces 
        for purposes of furnishing hospital care and medical services 
        under section 1789(a) of this title.''.
            (2) Initial enrollment.--
                    (A) Phased approach.--The Secretary of Veterans 
                Affairs shall implement a phased approach under 
                subparagraphs (B) and (C) to enroll all members of the 
                reserve components of the Armed Forces in the patient 
                enrollment system.
                    (B) Uninsured.--The Secretary shall ensure that all 
                members of the reserve components of the Armed Forces 
                who are uninsured are enrolled in the patient 
                enrollment system by not later than December 31, 2023.
                    (C) Other members.--The Secretary shall ensure that 
                all members of the reserve components of the Armed 
                Forces not covered by subparagraph (B) are enrolled in 
                the patient enrollment system by not later than 
                December 31, 2024.
            (3) Ongoing enrollment.--After December 31, 2023, the 
        Secretary shall automatically enroll in the patient enrollment 
        system all new members of the reserve components of the Armed 
        Forces upon those members joining the reserve components.
            (4) Study.--
                    (A) In general.--The Secretary shall conduct a 
                study to evaluate options for improving access to 
                health care for members of the reserve components of 
                the Armed Forces, including by conducting a review of 
                priority groups for enrollment in the patient 
                enrollment system.
                    (B) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date 
                of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall 
                submit to Congress a report on the study conducted 
                under subparagraph (A).
            (5) Consultation with secretary of defense.--The Secretary 
        shall carry out this subsection and the amendments made by this 
        subsection in consultation with the Secretary of Defense.
            (6) Patient enrollment system defined.--In this subsection, 
        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.
                                 <all>