HR 4915 IHCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To amend title 38, United States Code, to expand access to hospital care for veterans in urban areas, and for other purposes.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

December 19, 2007

Ms. PRYCE of Ohio (for herself, Mr. HOBSON, and Mr. TIBERI) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' AffairsCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To amend title 38, United States Code, to expand access to hospital care for veterans in urban areas, and for other purposes.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the `Veterans' Access to Local Options for Recovery Act of 2007' or the `VALOR Act'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 2. PROVISION OF IN-PATIENT CARE TO URBAN VETERANS.

Section 1703 of title 38, United States Code, is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) in subsection (a), by striking `When Department facilities' and inserting `Subject to subsection (e), when Department facilities'; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) by adding at the end the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(e)(1) Subject to the availability of appropriations, the Secretary may seek to enter into a contract with a non-Department facility located in an eligible metropolitan statistical area to provide hospital care and medical services to veterans. Under such contract, the non-Department facility shall provide hospital care and medical services for which the veteran seeking such services is eligible under section 1710 of this title.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(2) The Secretary shall ensure that the contract under paragraph (1) provides for payment by the Secretary to the non-Department facility. Such payment shall be--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(A) for hospital care and medical services provided to a veteran by the non-Department facility, including payment for--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(i) emergency care;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(ii) non-emergency hospital care services; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(iii) inpatient medical services; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(B) shall be limited to payment for hospital care and medical services for which the veteran is eligible under section 1710 of this title.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(3) For the purposes of this subsection--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(A) the term `inpatient medical services' means medical services provided to an inpatient of a hospital; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(B) the term `eligible metropolitan statistical area' means a metropolitan statistical area (as defined by the Director of the Office of Budget and Management) with--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(i) a total civilian population of at least 1,000,000;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(ii) a total veteran population of at least 90,000; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(iii) no Department facility capable of providing hospital care services or inpatient medical services.'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink