[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 102 (Tuesday, June 19, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4041-S4042]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 2927. Mrs. MURRAY submitted an amendment intended to be proposed 
to amendment SA 2910 proposed by Mr. Shelby to the bill H.R. 5895, 
making appropriations for energy and water development and related 
agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2019, and for other 
purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       At the end of title II of division C, add the following:

     SEC. 2__. AUTHORITY FOR SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS TO 
                   FURNISH MEDICALLY-NECESSARY TRANSPORTATION FOR 
                   NEWBORN CHILDREN OF CERTAIN WOMEN VETERANS.

       (a) In General.--Section 1786 of title 38, United States 
     Code, is amended--
       (1) in subsection (a)--
       (A) in the matter before paragraph (1)--
       (i) by inserting ``and transportation necessary to receive 
     such services'' after ``described in subsection (b)''; and
       (ii) by inserting ``, except as provided in subsection 
     (e),'' after ``seven days'';
       (B) in paragraph (1), by striking ``or'';
       (C) in paragraph (2), by striking the period at the end and 
     inserting ``; or''; and
       (D) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
       ``(3) another location, including a health care facility, 
     if the veteran delivers the child before arriving at a 
     facility described in paragraph (1) or (2).''.
       (2) in subsection (b), by inserting before the period at 
     the end the following``, including necessary health care 
     services provided by a facility other than the facility where 
     the newborn child was delivered (including a specialty 
     pediatric hospital) that accepts transfer of the newborn 
     child and responsibility for treatment of the newborn 
     child''.
       (3) by adding at the end the following new subsections:
       ``(c) Transportation.--(1) Transportation furnished under 
     subsection (a) to, from, or between, care settings to meet 
     the needs of a newborn child includes costs for either or 
     both the newborn child and parents.

[[Page S4042]]

       ``(2) Transportation furnished under subsection (a) 
     includes transportation by ambulance, including air 
     ambulance, or other appropriate medically staffed modes of 
     transportation--
       ``(A) to another health care facility (including a 
     specialty pediatric hospital) that accepts transfer of the 
     newborn child or otherwise provides post-delivery care 
     services when the treating facility is not capable of 
     furnishing the care or services required; or
       ``(B) to a health care facility in a medical emergency of 
     such nature that a prudent layperson reasonably expects that 
     delay in seeking immediate medical attention would be 
     hazardous to life or health.
       ``(3) Amounts paid by the Department for transportation 
     under this section shall be derived from the Medical Services 
     appropriations account of the Department.
       ``(d) Reimbursement or Payment for Health Care Services or 
     Transportation.--(1) Pursuant to regulations the Secretary 
     shall prescribe to establish rates of reimbursement and any 
     limitations thereto under this section, the Secretary shall 
     directly reimburse a covered entity for health care services 
     or transportation services provided under this section, 
     unless the cost of the services or transportation is covered 
     by an established agreement or contract. Where such an 
     agreement or contract already exists, its negotiated payment 
     terms shall apply.
       ``(2)(A) Reimbursement or payment by the Secretary under 
     this section on behalf of an individual to a covered entity 
     shall, unless rejected and refunded by the covered entity 
     within 30 days of receipt, extinguish any liability on the 
     part of the individual for the health care services or 
     transportation covered by such payment.
       ``(B) Neither the absence of a contract or agreement 
     between the Secretary and a covered entity nor any provision 
     of a contract, agreement, or assignment to the contrary shall 
     operate to modify, limit, or negate the requirements of 
     subparagraph (A).
       ``(3) In this subsection, the term `covered entity' means 
     any individual, transportation carrier, organization, or 
     other entity that furnished or paid for health care services 
     or transportation under this section.
       ``(e) Exception.--Pursuant to such regulations as the 
     Secretary shall prescribe to carry out this section, the 
     Secretary may furnish more than seven days of health care 
     services described in subsection (b), and transportation 
     necessary to receive such services, to a newborn child based 
     on medical necessity if the child is in need of additional 
     care, including a case in which the newborn child has been 
     discharged or released from a hospital and requires 
     readmittance to ensure the health and welfare of the newborn 
     child.''.
       (b) Treatment of Certain Debts Already Incurred.--Pursuant 
     to such regulations as the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
     shall prescribe, the Secretary may waive a debt for or 
     reimburse a veteran billed for the cost of transportation 
     that was furnished in order for a newborn child to receive 
     health care services under section 1786 of title 38, United 
     States Code, before the date of the enactment of this Act.
                                 ______