I 

108TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 2219

To amend title 38, United States Code, to permit Department of Veterans 

Affairs pharmacies to dispense medications on prescriptions written by 

private practitioners to veterans who are currently awaiting their first 

appointment with the Department for medical care, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MAY 22, 2003

Mr. BOSWELL introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 

Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 

A BILL

To amend title 38, United States Code, to permit Department of Veterans Affairs pharmacies to dispense medications on prescriptions written by private practitioners 

to veterans who are currently awaiting their first appointment with the Department for medical care, and 

for other purposes.

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
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1 SECTION 1. AUTHORITY OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS 

2 AFFAIRS PHARMACIES TO DISPENSE MEDICA3 TIONS TO CERTAIN VETERANS FOR PRE4 SCRIPTIONS WRITTEN BY PRIVATE PRACTI5 TIONERS. 

6 (a) AUTHORITY TO DISPENSE MEDICATIONS TO

7 CERTAIN VETERANS.—Section 1712 of title 38, United 

8 States Code, is amended—

9 (1) by redesignating subsection (e) as sub10 section (f); and 

11 (2) by inserting after subsection (d) the fol12 lowing new subsection (e): 

13 ‘‘(e)(1) The Secretary may authorize the pharmacies 

14 of the Department to dispense medications to a veteran 

15 described in paragraph (2) pursuant to a valid prescrip16 tion of the veteran written by a private practitioner. 

17 ‘‘(2) A veteran described in this paragraph is any vet18 eran who is on a waiting list for such veteran’s first ap19 pointment with the Department for medical services as of 

20 the date of the enactment of this section. 

21 ‘‘(3) A veteran dispensed a medication under this 

22 subsection shall pay the Secretary an amount for such 

23 medication determined in accordance with the provisions 

24 of section 1722A(a) of this title. 
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1 ‘‘(4) Any amounts paid under paragraph (3) shall be 

2 deposited in the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical 

3 Care Collections Fund.’’. 

4 (b) DEPOSIT OF COLLECTIONS.—Section 1729A(b) 

5 of such title is amended—

6 (1) by redesignating paragraphs (4) through 

7 (8) as paragraphs (5) through (9), respectively; and 

8 (2) by inserting after paragraph (3) the fol9 lowing new paragraph (4): 

10 ‘‘(4) Section 1712(e) of this title.’’. 

11 (c) REPORT.—(1) Not later than one year after the 

12 date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Vet13 erans Affairs shall submit to the Committees on Veterans’ 

14 Affairs of the Senate and the House of Representatives 

15 a report on the exercise by the Secretary of the authority 

16 provided in subsection (e) of section 1712 of title 38, 

17 United States Code (as amended by subsection (a) of this 

18 section). 

19 (2) The report shall include—

20 (A) a description of the exercise of the author21 ity by the Secretary; and 

22 (B) such recommendations for additional legis23 lative or administrative action with respect to the 
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1 authority as the Secretary considers appropriate in 

2 light of the exercise of the authority.

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