ACT for Veterans Act

I 117TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION H. R. 3994 To amend title 38, United States Code, to extend the authorization period for emergency treatment in non-Department of Veterans Affairs medical facilities under the Veterans Community Care Program. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES JUNE 17, 2021 Mr. GIBBS (for himself, Mr. GALLAGHER, Mr. JOYCE of Ohio, Mr. BALDERSON, Mr. GOHMERT, Mrs. HARSHBARGER, Mr. BIGGS, Mr. GON- ZALEZ of Ohio, Mr. JOYCE of Pennsylvania, Mr. CARL, Mrs. RODGERS of Washington, Mr. WENSTRUP, and Mr. STEIL) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs A BILL To amend title 38, United States Code, to extend the author- ization period for emergency treatment in non-Depart- ment of Veterans Affairs medical facilities under the Veterans Community Care Program. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa- 1 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 2 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 3 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Addressing Care 4 Timelines for Veterans Act’’ or the ‘‘ACT for Veterans 5 Act’’. 6 VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:56 Jul 09, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H3994.IH H3994 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 2 •HR 3994 IH SEC. 2. AUTHORIZATION PERIOD FOR EMERGENCY TREAT- 1 MENT IN NON-DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS 2 AFFAIRS MEDICAL FACILITIES. 3 (a) AUTHORIZATION PERIOD.—Section 1703(a)(3) of 4 title 38, United States Code, is amended— 5 (1) by striking ‘‘A covered veteran’’ and insert- 6 ing ‘‘(A) Except as provided by subparagraph (B), 7 a covered veteran’’; and 8 (2) by adding at the end the following new sub- 9 paragraph: 10 ‘‘(B) In the case of an emergency which existed at 11 the time of admission of a covered veteran to a health care 12 provider, the Secretary shall deem the care or services re- 13 ceived by the veteran during such admission to be author- 14 ized under subparagraph (A) if the covered veteran (or 15 an individual acting on behalf of the covered veteran) 16 makes an application for such authorization during the pe- 17 riod following such admission that the Secretary deter- 18 mines appropriate for purposes of this paragraph, except 19 such period may not be less than 96 hours.’’. 20 (b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by 21 subsection (a) shall take effect on the date specified in 22 section 101(b) of the Caring for Our Veterans Act of 2018 23 (38 U.S.C. 1703 note; Public Law 115–182; 132 Stat. 24 1403). 25 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:56 Jul 09, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\H3994.IH H3994 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS