### **CHAPTER 17—HOSPITAL, NURSING HOME, DOMICILIARY, AND MEDICAL CARE**

#### SUBCHAPTER I—GENERAL

Sec.
1701.
Definitions.
1702.
Presumptions: psychosis after service in World War II and following periods of war; mental illness following service in the Persian Gulf War.
1703.
Veterans Community Care Program.
1703A.
Agreements with eligible entities or providers; certification processes.
1703B.
Access standards.
1703C.
Standards for quality.
1703D.
Prompt payment standard.
1703E.
Center for Innovation for Care and Payment.
1703F.
Credentialing verification requirements for providers of non-Department health care services.
1704.
Preventive health services: annual report.
1704A.
Independent assessments of health care delivery systems and management processes.
1705.
Management of health care: patient enrollment system.
1705A.
Management of health care: information regarding health-plan contracts.
1706.
Management of health care: other requirements.
1706A.
Remediation of medical service lines.
1707.
Limitations.
1708.
Temporary lodging.
1709.
Comprehensive policy on reporting and tracking sexual assault incidents and other safety incidents.
1709A.
Teleconsultation.
1709B.
Evaluations of mental health care and suicide prevention programs.
1709C.
Assistance for child care for certain veterans receiving health care, 1

#### SUBCHAPTER II—HOSPITAL, NURSING HOME, OR DOMICILIARY CARE AND MEDICAL TREATMENT

1710.
Eligibility for hospital, nursing home, and domiciliary care.
1710A.
Required nursing home care.
1710B.
Extended care services.
1710C.
Traumatic brain injury: plans for rehabilitation and reintegration into the community.
1710D.
Traumatic brain injury: comprehensive program for long-term rehabilitation.
1710E.
Traumatic brain injury: use of non-Department facilities for rehabilitation.
1711.
Care during examinations and in emergencies.
1712.
Dental care; drugs and medicines for certain disabled veterans; vaccines.
1712A.
Eligibility for readjustment counseling and related mental health services.
1712B.
Counseling for former prisoners of war.
1712C.
Dental insurance plan for veterans and survivors and dependents of veterans.
[1713.
Renumbered.]
1714.
Fitting and training in use of prosthetic appliances; guide dogs; service dogs.
1715.
Tobacco for hospitalized veterans.
1716.
Hospital care by other agencies of the United States.
1717.
Home health services; invalid lifts and other devices.
1718.
Therapeutic and rehabilitative activities.
1719.
Repair or replacement of certain prosthetic and other appliances.
1720.
Transfers for nursing home care; adult day health care.
1720A.
Treatment and rehabilitative services for persons with drug or alcohol dependency.
1720B.
Respite care.
1720C.
Noninstitutional alternatives to nursing home care.
1720D.
Counseling and treatment for sexual trauma.
1720E.
Nasopharyngeal radium irradiation.
1720F.
Comprehensive program for suicide prevention among veterans and members of the reserve components of the Armed Forces.
1720G.
Assistance and support services for caregivers.
1720H.
Mental health treatment for veterans and members of the reserve components of the Armed Forces who served in classified missions.
1720I.
Mental and behavioral health care for certain former members of the Armed Forces.
1720J.
Emergent suicide care.

#### SUBCHAPTER III—MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS RELATING TO HOSPITAL AND NURSING HOME CARE AND MEDICAL TREATMENT OF VETERANS

1721.
Power to make rules and regulations.
1722.
Determination of inability to defray necessary expenses; income thresholds.
1722A.
Copayment for medications.
1722B.
Copayments: waiver of collection of copayments for telehealth and telemedicine visits of veterans.
1722C.
Copayments: prohibition on collection of copayments for first three mental health care outpatient visits of veterans 2

1723.
Furnishing of clothing.
1724.
Hospital care, medical services, and nursing home care abroad.
1725.
Reimbursement for emergency treatment.
1725A.
Access to walk-in care.
1726.
Reimbursement for loss of personal effects by natural disaster.
1727.
Persons eligible under prior law.
1728.
Reimbursement of certain medical expenses.
1729.
Recovery by the United States of the cost of certain care and services.
1729A.
Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Care Collections Fund.
1729B.
Consolidated patient accounting centers.
1730.
Community residential care.
1730A.
Prohibition on collection of copayments from certain veterans.
1730B.
Access to State prescription drug monitoring programs.
1730C.
Licensure of health care professionals providing treatment via telemedicine.

#### SUBCHAPTER IV—HOSPITAL CARE AND MEDICAL TREATMENT FOR VETERANS IN THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES

1731.
Assistance to the Republic of the Philippines.
1732.
Contracts and grants to provide for the care and treatment of United States veterans by the Veterans Memorial Medical Center.
1733.
Supervision of program by the President.
1734.
Hospital and nursing home care and medical services in the United States.
1735.
Definitions.

#### SUBCHAPTER V—PAYMENTS TO STATE HOMES

1741.
Criteria for payment.
1742.
Inspections of such homes; restrictions on beneficiaries.
1743.
Applications.
1744.
Hiring and retention of nurses: payments to assist States.
1745.
Nursing home care, adult day health care, and medications for veterans with service-connected disabilities.

#### SUBCHAPTER VI—SICKLE CELL ANEMIA

1751.
Screening, counseling, and medical treatment.
1752.
Research.
1753.
Voluntary participation; confidentiality.
1754.
Reports.
[1761 to 1764. Repealed.]

#### [SUBCHAPTER VII—TRANSFERRED]

[1771 to 1774. Renumbered.]

#### SUBCHAPTER VIII—HEALTH CARE OF PERSONS OTHER THAN VETERANS

1781.
Medical care for survivors and dependents of certain veterans.
1782.
Counseling, training, and mental health services for immediate family members and caregivers.
1783.
Bereavement counseling.
1784.
Humanitarian care.
1784A.
Examination and treatment for emergency medical conditions and women in labor.
1785.
Care and services during certain disasters and emergencies.
1786.
Care for newborn children of women veterans receiving maternity care.
1787.
Health care of family members of veterans stationed at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.
1788.
Transplant procedures with live donors and related services.
1789.
Mental health services for members of the reserve components of the Armed Forces.

#### **Editorial Notes**

#### Amendments

**2022**—Pub. L. 117–328, div. U, title I, §193A(a), Dec. 29, 2022, 136 Stat. 5439, added item 1722C.

Pub. L. 117–328, div. U, title I, §§141(a)(2), 194(b), Dec. 29, 2022, 136 Stat. 5423, 5444, which directed amendment of the analysis for subchapter I of this chapter by adding items 1703F and 1704A, was executed by adding the items to the analysis for this chapter, to reflect the probable intent of Congress.

**2021**—Pub. L. 116–315, title III, §3002(b), title V, §5107(a)(3), Jan. 5, 2021, 134 Stat. 4991, 5031, added item 1709C and substituted "Prohibition on collection of copayments from certain veterans" for "Prohibition on collection of copayments from catastrophically disabled veterans" in item 1730A.

Pub. L. 116–283, div. A, title VII, §§763(b), 764(a)(3)(B), Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 3725, 3726, which directed amendment of subchapter analysis for this chapter by adding item 1789 and substituting "Comprehensive program for suicide prevention among veterans and members of the reserve components of the Armed Forces" for "Comprehensive program for suicide prevention among veterans" in item 1720F, was executed by making the amendments to the analysis for this chapter, to reflect the probable intent of Congress.

Pub. L. 116–283, div. A, title VII, §764(b)(2)(B), Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 3727, substituted "Mental health treatment for veterans and members of the reserve components of the Armed Forces who served in classified missions" for "Mental health treatment for veterans who served in classified missions" in item 1720H.

**2020**—Pub. L. 116–214, title II, §201(b), Dec. 5, 2020, 134 Stat. 1033, added item 1720J.

**2018**—Pub. L. 115–182, title I, §§101(a)(2), 102(b), 104(b), 105(c), 109(b), 111(b), 134(b), 151(b), 152(b), 153(b), June 6, 2018, 132 Stat. 1403, 1408, 1411, 1413, 1418, 1421, 1429, 1431, 1437, 1438, substituted "Veterans Community Care Program" for "Contracts for hospital care and medical services in non-Department facilities" in item 1703, and added items 1703A to 1703E, 1706A, 1725A, 1730B, 1730C, and 1788.

Pub. L. 115–159, §2(c), Mar. 27, 2018, 132 Stat. 1245, substituted "Nursing home care, adult day health care, and medications for veterans with service-connected disabilities" for "Nursing home care and medications for veterans with service-connected disabilities" in item 1745.

Pub. L. 115–141, div. J, title II, §258(b), Mar. 23, 2018, 132 Stat. 828, added item 1720I.

**2016**—Pub. L. 114–315, title VI, §§604(b), 605(c), 606(b), title VIII, §802(2), Dec. 16, 2016, 130 Stat. 1571, 1572, 1575, 1591, added items 1705A, 1720H, and 1784A and substituted "Traumatic brain injury: comprehensive program for long-term rehabilitation" for "Traumatic brain injury: comprehensive plan for long-term rehabilitation" in item 1710D and "Traumatic brain injury: use of non-Department facilities for rehabilitation" for "Traumatic brain injury: use of non-Departmental facilities for rehabilitation" in item 1710E.

Pub. L. 114–218, §2(a)(2), July 29, 2016, 130 Stat. 843, added item 1712C.

**2015**—Pub. L. 114–2, §2(a)(2), Feb. 12, 2015, 129 Stat. 31, added item 1709B.

**2012**—Pub. L. 112–154, title I, §§102(b)(2), 103(b), 106(b), 108(a)(2), Aug. 6, 2012, 126 Stat. 1168, 1169, 1173, 1174, added items 1709, 1709A, 1722B, and 1787.

**2010**—Pub. L. 111–163, title I, §§101(a)(2), 103(c), title II, §206(b), title V, §511(b), May 5, 2010, 124 Stat. 1137, 1140, 1146, 1164, added items 1720G, 1730A, 1782, and 1786 and struck out former item 1782 "Counseling, training, and mental health services for immediate family members".

**2008**—Pub. L. 110–387, title IV, §406(b), Oct. 10, 2008, 122 Stat. 4130, added item 1729B.

Pub. L. 110–181, div. A, title XVII, §§1702(b), 1703(b), 1708(a)(3), Jan. 28, 2008, 122 Stat. 489, 490, 494, substituted "Presumptions: psychosis after service in World War II and following periods of war; mental illness following service in the Persian Gulf War" for "Presumption relating to psychosis" in item 1702 and added items 1710C to 1710E.

**2007**—Pub. L. 110–110, §3(a)(2), Nov. 5, 2007, 121 Stat. 1033, which directed amendment of the analysis for this chapter by adding item 1720F at the end, was executed by adding item 1720F after item 1720E, to reflect the probable intent of Congress.

**2006**—Pub. L. 109–461, title II, §211(a)(4), Dec. 22, 2006, 120 Stat. 3419, added item 1745.

**2004**—Pub. L. 108–422, title II, §201(a)(2), Nov. 30, 2004, 118 Stat. 2382, added item 1744.

**2003**—Pub. L. 108–7, div. K, title I, §113(a)(2), Feb. 20, 2003, 117 Stat. 482, struck out item 1729B "Health Services Improvement Fund".

**2002**—Pub. L. 107–287, §4(a)(2), Nov. 7, 2002, 116 Stat. 2029, added item 1785.

Pub. L. 107–135, title II, §§201(b)(2), 208(f)(1), Jan. 23, 2002, 115 Stat. 2457, 2464, substituted "Limitations" for "Restriction on use of funds for assisted suicide, euthanasia, or mercy killing" in item 1707, struck out item 1713 "Medical care for survivors and dependents of certain veterans", substituted "guide dogs; service dogs" for "seeing-eye dogs" in item 1714, and added item for subchapter VIII and items 1781 to 1784.

**2001**—Pub. L. 107–95, §5(g)(1), Dec. 21, 2001, 115 Stat. 918, struck out subchapter VII heading "TREATMENT AND REHABILITATION FOR SERIOUSLY MENTALLY ILL AND HOMELESS VETERANS" and items 1771 "General treatment", 1772 "Therapeutic housing", 1773 "Additional services at certain locations", and 1774 "Coordination with other agencies and organizations".

**2000**—Pub. L. 106–419, title II, §221(b), Nov. 1, 2000, 114 Stat. 1845, added item 1708.

**1999**—Pub. L. 106–117, title I, §§101(a)(2), (c)(2), 111(b)(2), title II, §202(b), Nov. 30, 1999, 113 Stat. 1548, 1549, 1556, 1561, added items 1710A, 1710B, 1725, and 1729B.

**1998**—Pub. L. 105–368, title IX, §901(b), Nov. 11, 1998, 112 Stat. 3360, added item 1720E.

**1997**—Pub. L. 105–114, title II, §§202(d), 206(b)(3), Nov. 21, 1997, 111 Stat. 2287, 2289, substituted "Treatment and rehabilitative services for persons with drug or alcohol dependency" for "Treatment and rehabilitation for alcohol or drug dependence or abuse disabilities" in item 1720A, struck out ": pilot program" after "home care" in item 1720C, and added item for subchapter VII and items 1771 to 1774.

Pub. L. 105–33, title VIII, §8023(a)(2), Aug. 5, 1997, 111 Stat. 667, added item 1729A.

Pub. L. 105–12, §9(i)(2), Apr. 30, 1997, 111 Stat. 27, added item 1707.

**1996**—Pub. L. 104–262, title I, §§101(c)(2)(B), 104(a)(2), Oct. 9, 1996, 110 Stat. 3179, 3184, added items 1705 and 1706 and substituted "Dental care; drugs and medicines for certain disabled veterans; vaccines" for "Eligibility for outpatient services" in item 1712.

**1994**—Pub. L. 103–452, title I, §101(f)(2)(B), Nov. 2, 1994, 108 Stat. 4784, substituted "and treatment" for "to women veterans" in item 1720D.

**1992**—Pub. L. 102–585, title I, §102(a)(2), title V, §§512(b), 514(b), Nov. 4, 1992, 106 Stat. 4946, 4958, added items 1704 and 1720D and struck out subchapter VII heading "PREVENTIVE HEALTH-CARE SERVICES PILOT PROGRAM" and items 1761 "Purpose", 1762 "Definition", 1763 "Preventive health-care services", and 1764 "Reports".

**1991**—Pub. L. 102–83, §5(b)(1), Aug. 6, 1991, 105 Stat. 406, renumbered items 601 to 664 as 1701 to 1764, respectively.

Pub. L. 102–83, §4(a)(5), Aug. 6, 1991, 105 Stat. 404, substituted "non-Department" for "non-Veterans' Administration" in item 603.

**1990**—Pub. L. 101–508, title VIII, §8012(a)(2), Nov. 5, 1990, 104 Stat. 1388–345, added item 622A.

Pub. L. 101–366, title II, §201(a)(2), Aug. 15, 1990, 104 Stat. 438, added item 620C.

**1988**—Pub. L. 100–322, title I, §§101(h)(2), 115(g)(2), May 20, 1988, 102 Stat. 492, 502, substituted "Eligibility for outpatient services" for "Eligibility for medical treatment" in item 612, substituted "Home health services; invalid" for "Invalid" in item 617, and struck out item 620C "Community based psychiatric residential treatment for chronically mentally ill veterans".

**1987**—Pub. L. 100–6, §2(b), Feb. 12, 1987, 101 Stat. 94, added item 620C.

**1986**—Pub. L. 99–576, title II, §201(a)(2), 100 Stat. 3254, added item 620B.

Pub. L. 99–272, title XIX, §§19011(c)(2), 19012(b)(2), Apr. 7, 1986, 100 Stat. 378, 382, added item 603, and substituted "Determination" for "Evidence" and inserted "; income thresholds" in item 622.

**1985**—Pub. L. 99–166, title I, §§101(b)(2), 107(b), Dec. 3, 1985, 99 Stat. 943, 946, added item 612B and struck out "; pilot program" after "disabilities" in item 620A.

**1983**—Pub. L. 98–160, title I, §§103(a)(3), 104(b), Nov. 21, 1983, 97 Stat. 996, 998, inserted "; adult day health care" in item 620 and added item 630.

**1982**—Pub. L. 97–295, §4(15), Oct. 12, 1982, 96 Stat. 1306, substituted "Hospital care, medical services, and nursing home care abroad" for "Hospital care and medical services abroad" in item 624.

**1981**—Pub. L. 97–72, title I, §§106(a)(2), 107(c)(2), (d)(2), Nov. 3, 1981, 95 Stat. 1051, 1052, 1053, added item 629, substituted "HOSPITAL CARE AND MEDICAL TREATMENT FOR VETERANS IN THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES" for "HOSPITAL AND MEDICAL CARE FOR COMMONWEALTH OF THE PHILIPPINES ARMY VETERANS" in item relating to subchapter IV, and substituted "Contracts and grants to provide for the care and treatment of United States veterans by the Veterans Memorial Medical Center" for "Contracts and grants to provide hospital care, medical services and nursing home care" in item 632.

**1980**—Pub. L. 96–330, title IV, §401(b), Aug. 26, 1980, 94 Stat. 1051, substituted "Evidence of inability to defray necessary expenses" for "Statement under oath" in item 622.

**1979**—Pub. L. 96–22, title I, §§103(a)(2), 104(b), 105(b), 106(b), June 13, 1979, 93 Stat. 50, 51, 53, added items 612A, 620A, 634, and 661 to 664 and redesignated former item 634 as 635.

**1977**—Pub. L. 95–62, §4(b), July 5, 1977, 91 Stat. 263, struck out item 644 "Authorization of appropriations".

**1976**—Pub. L. 94–581, title II, §§202(a), 203(b), Oct. 21, 1976, 90 Stat. 2855, 2856, inserted "NURSING HOME," in chapter heading, and, in analysis of subchapter headings and section catchlines, inserted ", NURSING HOME" in item for subchapter II, inserted ", nursing home" in item 610, substituted "Care" for "Hospitalization" in item 611, and inserted "AND NURSING HOME" in item for subchapter III.

**1973**—Pub. L. 93–82, title I, §§103(c), 106(b), 107(b), 109(b), Aug. 2, 1973, 87 Stat. 182, 184, 186, 187, substituted "Medical care for survivors and dependents of certain veterans" and "Fitting and training in use of prosthetic appliances; seeing-eye dogs" for "Fitting and training in use of prosthetic appliances" and "Seeing-eye dogs" in items 613 and 614, respectively, substituted "natural disaster" for "fire" in item 626, added item 628, substituted "Assistance to the Republic of the Philippines" and "Contracts and grants to provide hospital care, medical services and nursing home care" for "Grants to the Republic of the Philippines" and "Modification of agreement with the Republic of the Philippines effectuating the Act of July 1, 1948" in items 631 and 632, respectively, and added "SUBCHAPTER VI—SICKLE CELL ANEMIA" comprising items 651 to 654.

Pub. L. 93–43, §4(c)(2), June 18, 1973, 87 Stat. 79, struck out item 625 "Arrests for crimes in hospitals and domiciliary reservations".

**1969**—Pub. L. 91–178, §2(b), Dec. 30, 1969, 83 Stat. 837, added item 644.

**1968**—Pub. L. 90–493, §3(b), Aug. 19, 1968, 82 Stat. 809, substituted "Invalid lifts and other devices" for "Invalid lifts and other devices for pensioners" in item 617.

**1964**—Pub. L. 88–450, §§2(b), 6(b), Aug. 19, 1964, 78 Stat. 500, 504, inserted "and other devices" in item 617 and added item 620.

**1962**—Pub. L. 87–850, §1(b), Oct. 23, 1962, 76 Stat. 1126, added item 619.

Pub. L. 87–574, §2(2), Aug. 6, 1962, 76 Stat. 308, added item 618.

**1959**—Pub. L. 86–211, §7(b), Aug. 29, 1959, 73 Stat. 436, added item 617.

1  So in original. The comma probably should be a period.

2  So in original. Probably should be followed by a period.