[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 198 (Monday, November 15, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Page S8098]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 4576. Mr. KENNEDY submitted an amendment intended to be proposed 
to amendment SA 3867 submitted by Mr. Reed and intended to be proposed 
to the bill H.R. 4350, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2022 
for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military 
construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, 
to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for 
other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

        At the end of subtitle G of title X, add the following:

     SEC. 1064. REIMBURSEMENT OF PHYSICIANS BY DEPARTMENT OF 
                   VETERANS AFFAIRS DURING CERTAIN DISASTERS AND 
                   EMERGENCIES.

       (a) In General.--During a period in which a covered 
     disaster or emergency has been declared, the Secretary of 
     Veterans Affairs shall reimburse covered physicians for 
     audio-only telehealth visits under the laws administered by 
     the Secretary at the same rate as in-person visits.
       (b) Definitions.--In this section:
       (1) Covered disaster or emergency.--The term ``covered 
     disaster or emergency'' means the following:
       (A) A disaster or emergency specified in section 1785(b) of 
     title 38, United States Code.
       (B) A public health emergency declared by the Secretary of 
     Health and Human Services under section 319 of the Public 
     Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 247d).
       (C) A domestic emergency declared by the Secretary of 
     Homeland Security.
       (2) Covered physician.--The term ``covered physician'' 
     means a physician who is not a physician of the Department of 
     Veterans Affairs who provides care to veterans under--
       (A) the Veterans Community Care Program under section 1703 
     of title 38, United States Code; or
       (B) any other authority under the laws administered by the 
     Secretary.
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