II 

115TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. 1526 

To appropriate amounts to the Department of Veterans Affairs to improve 

the provision of health care to veterans, and for other purposes. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

JULY 11, 2017 

Mr. TESTER (for himself, Mr. KING, Mr. SANDERS, Mrs. MURRAY, Mr. 

BLUMENTHAL, Mr. BROWN, Ms. BALDWIN, and Ms. HIRONO) introduced 

the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee 

on Veterans’ Affairs 

A BILL 

To appropriate amounts to the Department of Veterans Affairs to improve the provision of health care to veterans, 

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, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 

4 (a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 

5 ‘‘Veterans Access to Care Act of 2017’’. 

6 (b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for 

7 this Act is as follows: 

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 


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TITLE I—APPROPRIATION OF AMOUNTS FOR HEALTH CARE FOR 

VETERANS 

Sec. 101. Appropriation of amounts for Veterans Choice Program. 

Sec. 102. Appropriation of amounts for health care from Department of Veterans Affairs. 

TITLE II—IMPROVEMENT OF HEALTH CARE FROM DEPARTMENT 

OF VETERANS AFFAIRS 

Sec. 201. Program to increase number of graduate medical education residency 

positions of Department of Veterans Affairs. 

Sec. 202. Expansion of eligibility for participation in and services provided 

under family caregiver program of Department of Veterans Affairs. 

Sec. 203. Authorization of certain major medical facility leases of the Department of Veterans Affairs. 

TITLE III—ADMINISTRATION OF HEALTH CARE FROM NONDEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS PROVIDERS 

Sec. 301. Modification of process through which Department of Veterans Affairs records obligations for non-Department care. 

Sec. 302. Modification of report on amounts available under Veterans Choice 

Program. 

TITLE IV—OTHER MATTERS 

Sec. 401. Emergency designations. 

1 TITLE I—APPROPRIATION OF 

2 AMOUNTS FOR HEALTH CARE 

3 FOR VETERANS 

4 SEC. 101. APPROPRIATION OF AMOUNTS FOR VETERANS 

5 CHOICE PROGRAM. 

6 (a) IN GENERAL.—There is authorized to be appro7 priated, and is appropriated, to the Secretary of Veterans 

8 Affairs, out of any funds in the Treasury not otherwise 

9 appropriated, $4,300,000,000 to be deposited in the Vet10 erans Choice Fund under section 802 of the Veterans Ac11 cess, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 (Public Law 

12 113–146; 38 U.S.C. 1701 note). 


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1 (b) AVAILABILITY OF AMOUNTS.—The amount ap2 propriated under subsection (a) shall be available for obli3 gation or expenditure without fiscal year limitation. 

4 SEC. 102. APPROPRIATION OF AMOUNTS FOR HEALTH 

5 CARE FROM DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AF6 FAIRS. 

7 (a) IN GENERAL.—There is authorized to be appro8 priated, and is appropriated, to the Secretary of Veterans 

9 Affairs, out of any funds in the Treasury not otherwise 

10 appropriated, $4,300,000,000 to carry out subsection (c). 

11 (b) AVAILABILITY OF AMOUNTS.—The amount ap12 propriated under subsection (a) shall be available for obli13 gation or expenditure without fiscal year limitation. 

14 (c) USE OF AMOUNTS.—The amount appropriated 

15 under subsection (a) shall be used by the Secretary as fol16 lows: 

17 (1) To increase the access of veterans to care 

18 as follows: 

19 (A) To hire primary care and specialty 

20 care physicians for employment in the Depart21 ment of Veterans Affairs. 

22 (B) To hire other medical staff, including 

23 the following: 

24 (i) Physicians. 

25 (ii) Gynecologists. 


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1 (iii) Nurses. 

2 (iv) Social workers. 

3 (v) Mental health professionals. 

4 (vi) Physician assistants. 

5 (vii) Other health care professionals 

6 as the Secretary considers appropriate. 

7 (C) To carry out the following: 

8 (i) Section 7412 of title 38, United 

9 States Code. 

10 (ii) Section 7302(e) of such title. 

11 (iii) Subchapters II and VII of chap12 ter 76 of such title. 

13 (iv) Section 301(b)(2) of the Veterans 

14 Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 

15 2014 (Public Law 113–146; 38 U.S.C. 

16 7302 note). 

17 (D) To pay for expenses, equipment, and 

18 other costs associated with the hiring of pri19 mary care, specialty care physicians, and other 

20 medical staff under subparagraphs (A), (B), 

21 and (C). 

22 (2) To improve the physical infrastructure of 

23 the Department as follows: 

24 (A) To maintain and operate hospitals, 

25 nursing homes, domiciliary facilities, and other 


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1 facilities of the Veterans Health Administra2 tion. 

3 (B) To enter into contracts or hire tem4 porary employees to repair, alter, or improve fa5 cilities under the jurisdiction of the Department 

6 that are not otherwise provided for under this 

7 paragraph. 

8 (C) To carry out leases for facilities of the 

9 Department. 

10 (D) To carry out minor construction 

11 projects of the Department. 

12 (3) To carry out the program to increase the 

13 number of graduate medical education residency po14 sitions of the Department under section 201. 

15 (4) To carry out the major medical facility 

16 leases authorized under section 203. 

17 (d) REPORT.— 

18 (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than one year 

19 after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Sec20 retary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the appro21 priate committees of Congress a report on how the 

22 Secretary has obligated the amount appropriated 

23 under subsection (a) as of the date of the submittal 

24 of the report. 


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1 (2) APPROPRIATE COMMITTEES OF CONGRESS

2 DEFINED.—In this subsection, the term ‘‘appro3 priate committees of Congress’’ means— 

4 (A) the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 

5 and the Committee on Appropriations of the 

6 Senate; and 

7 (B) the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 

8 and the Committee on Appropriations of the 

9 House of Representatives. 

10 (e) FUNDING PLAN.—The Secretary shall submit to 

11 Congress a funding plan describing how the Secretary in12 tends to use the amount appropriated under subsection 

13 (a). 

14 TITLE II—IMPROVEMENT OF 

15 HEALTH CARE FROM DE16 PARTMENT OF VETERANS AF17 FAIRS 

18 SEC. 201. PROGRAM TO INCREASE NUMBER OF GRADUATE 

19 MEDICAL EDUCATION RESIDENCY POSITIONS 

20 OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS. 

21 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Veterans Affairs 

22 shall conduct a program to increase the number of grad23 uate medical education residency positions at covered fa24 cilities by not more than 1,500 positions through the payVerDate Sep 11 2014 03:03 Jul 15, 2017 Jkt 069200 PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S1526.IS S1526

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1 ment of educational assistance to participants in the pro2 gram. 

3 (b) APPLICATION.—To participate in the program 

4 under this section, an individual shall submit to the Sec5 retary an application for such participation together with 

6 an agreement described in subsection (d) under which the 

7 individual agrees to serve a period of obligated service in 

8 the Veterans Health Administration as provided in the 

9 agreement in return for payment of educational assistance 

10 as provided in the agreement. 

11 (c) APPROVAL BY SECRETARY.— 

12 (1) IN GENERAL.—An individual becomes a 

13 participant in the program under this section upon 

14 the approval by the Secretary of the application of 

15 the individual and the acceptance by the Secretary 

16 of an agreement described in subsection (d) with re17 spect to the individual. 

18 (2) NOTIFICATION.—Upon the approval by the 

19 Secretary under paragraph (1) of the participation 

20 of an individual in the program and the acceptance 

21 of an agreement described in subsection (d), the Sec22 retary shall promptly notify the individual in writing 

23 of that approval and acceptance. 

24 (d) AGREEMENT.—An agreement between the Sec25 retary and a participant in the program under this section 


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1 shall be in writing and shall be signed by the participant 

2 containing such terms as the Secretary may specify. 

3 (e) CONDITIONS FOR MEDICAL RESIDENCY.—The 

4 Secretary may prescribe the conditions of employment of 

5 individuals participating in a medical residency under the 

6 program under this section, including necessary training, 

7 and the customary amount and terms of pay for such indi8 viduals during the period of such employment and training 

9 as a medical resident. 

10 (f) OBLIGATED SERVICE.— 

11 (1) IN GENERAL.—Each participant in the pro12 gram under this section shall serve as a full-time 

13 employee of the Department of Veterans Affairs for 

14 a period of obligated service provided in the agree15 ment entered into by the participant under sub16 section (d). 

17 (2) PRACTICE AREA.—Service by a participant 

18 under paragraph (1) shall be in the full-time clinical 

19 practice of the profession of the participant or in an20 other health care position in an assignment or loca21 tion determined by the Secretary. 

22 (3) NOTIFICATION.—Not later than 60 days be23 fore the date of the beginning of the period of obli24 gated service of a participant, the Secretary shall 

25 notify the participant of that date. 


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1 (g) BREACH OF AGREEMENT; LIABILITY.— 

2 (1) LIQUIDATED DAMAGES FOR FAILURE TO

3 ACCEPT PAYMENT.— 

4 (A) IN GENERAL.—A participant in the 

5 program under this section (other than a par6 ticipant described in paragraph (2)) who fails to 

7 accept payment, or instructs the covered facility 

8 at which the participant is a medical resident 

9 not to accept payment, in whole or in part, of 

10 educational assistance under the agreement en11 tered into under subsection (d) shall be liable to 

12 the United States for liquidated damages in the 

13 amount of $1,500. 

14 (B) TREATMENT OF OTHER OBLIGA15 TIONS.—Liability for liquidated damages under 

16 subparagraph (A) is in addition to any period 

17 of obligated service or other obligation or liabil18 ity under the agreement entered into under sub19 section (d). 

20 (2) LIABILITY FOR CERTAIN BREACHES.— 

21 (A) IN GENERAL.—A participant in the 

22 program under this section shall be liable to the 

23 United States for the amount that has been 

24 paid to or on behalf of the participant under 

25 the agreement if any of the following occurs: 


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1 (i) The participant is dismissed from 

2 serving as a medical resident at a covered 

3 facility for disciplinary reasons. 

4 (ii) The participant voluntarily termi5 nates service as a medical resident at a 

6 covered facility before completion of such 

7 service. 

8 (iii) The participant loses his or her 

9 license, registration, or certification to 

10 practice his or her health care profession 

11 in a State. 

12 (B) TREATMENT OF PERIOD OF OBLI13 GATED SERVICE.—Liability under subparagraph 

14 (A) is in lieu of any period of obligated service 

15 under the agreement entered into under sub16 section (d). 

17 (3) LIABILITY FOR FAILING TO COMPLETE PE18 RIOD OF SERVICE.— 

19 (A) IN GENERAL.—If a participant in the 

20 program under this section breaches the agree21 ment under subsection (d) by failing (for any 

22 reason) to complete the period of obligated serv23 ice of the participant, the United States shall 

24 be entitled to recover from the participant an 


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1 amount determined in accordance with the fol2 lowing formula: A = 3Φ(t ¥ s/t). 

3 (B) FORMULA VARIABLES.—In the for4 mula specified in subparagraph (A): 

5 (i) ‘‘A’’ is the amount the United 

6 States is entitled to recover from the par7 ticipant. 

8 (ii) ‘‘Φ’’ is the sum of— 

9 (I) the amounts paid under this 

10 section to or on behalf of the partici11 pant; and 

12 (II) the interest on such amounts 

13 which would be payable if at the time 

14 the amounts were paid they were 

15 loans bearing interest at the max16 imum legal prevailing rate, as deter17 mined by the Treasurer of the United 

18 States. 

19 (iii) ‘‘t’’ is the total number of months 

20 in the period of obligated service of the 

21 participant. 

22 (iv) ‘‘s’’ is the number of months of 

23 such period served by the participant. 

24 (4) PAYMENT DEADLINE.—Any amount of 

25 damages that the United States is entitled to recover 


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1 under this subsection shall be paid to the United 

2 States within the one-year period beginning on the 

3 date of the breach of the agreement under sub4 section (d). 

5 (h) COVERED FACILITIES DEFINED.—In this section, 

6 the term ‘‘covered facilities’’ means any of the following: 

7 (1) A Department facility. 

8 (2) A facility operated by an Indian tribe or a 

9 tribal organization, as those terms are defined in 

10 section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Edu11 cation Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304). 

12 (3) A facility operated by the Indian Health 

13 Service. 

14 (4) A Federally-qualified health center, as de15 fined in section 1905(l)(2)(B) of the Social Security 

16 Act (42 U.S.C. 1396d(l)(2)(B)). 

17 (5) A community health center. 

18 (6) A facility operated by the Department of 

19 Defense. 

20 (7) Any other health care facility designated by 

21 the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. 


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1 SEC. 202. EXPANSION OF ELIGIBILITY FOR PARTICIPATION 

2 IN AND SERVICES PROVIDED UNDER FAMILY 

3 CAREGIVER PROGRAM OF DEPARTMENT OF 

4 VETERANS AFFAIRS. 

5 (a) FAMILY CAREGIVER PROGRAM.— 

6 (1) EXPANSION OF ELIGIBILITY.—Subsection 

7 (a)(2)(B) of section 1720G of title 38, United States 

8 Code, is amended by striking ‘‘on or after September 

9 11, 2001’’. 

10 (2) CLARIFICATION OF ELIGIBILITY FOR ILL11 NESS.—Such subsection is further amended by in12 serting ‘‘or illness’’ after ‘‘serious injury’’. 

13 (3) EXPANSION OF NEEDED SERVICES IN ELI14 GIBILITY CRITERIA.—Subsection (a)(2)(C) of such 

15 section is amended— 

16 (A) in clause (ii), by striking ‘‘; or’’ and in17 serting a semicolon; 

18 (B) by redesignating clause (iii) as clause 

19 (iv); and 

20 (C) by inserting after clause (ii) the fol21 lowing new clause (iii): 

22 ‘‘(iii) a need for regular or extensive in23 struction or supervision without which the abil24 ity of the veteran to function in daily life would 

25 be seriously impaired; or’’. 


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1 (4) EXPANSION OF SERVICES PROVIDED.—Sub2 section (a)(3)(A)(ii) of such section is amended— 

3 (A) in subclause (IV), by striking ‘‘; and’’ 

4 and inserting a semicolon; 

5 (B) in subclause (V), by striking the period 

6 at the end and inserting a semicolon; and 

7 (C) by adding at the end the following new 

8 subclauses: 

9 ‘‘(VI) child care services or a monthly sti10 pend for such services if such services are not 

11 readily available from the Department; 

12 ‘‘(VII) financial planning services relating 

13 to the needs of injured and ill veterans and 

14 their caregivers; and 

15 ‘‘(VIII) legal services, including legal ad16 vice and consultation, relating to the needs of 

17 injured and ill veterans and their caregivers.’’. 

18 (5) EXPANSION OF RESPITE CARE PROVIDED.— 

19 Subsection (a)(3)(B) of such section is amended by 

20 striking ‘‘shall be’’ and all that follows through the 

21 period at the end and inserting ‘‘shall— 

22 ‘‘(i) be medically and age-appropriate; 

23 ‘‘(ii) include in-home care; and 

24 ‘‘(iii) include peer-oriented group activities.’’. 


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1 (6) MODIFICATION OF STIPEND CALCULA2 TION.—Subsection (a)(3)(C) of such section is 

3 amended— 

4 (A) by redesignating clause (iii) as clause 

5 (iv); and 

6 (B) by inserting after clause (ii) the fol7 lowing new clause (iii): 

8 ‘‘(iii) In determining the amount and degree of per9 sonal care services provided under clause (i) with respect 

10 to an eligible veteran whose need for personal care services 

11 is based in whole or in part on a need for supervision or 

12 protection under paragraph (2)(C)(ii) or regular or exten13 sive instruction or supervision under paragraph (2)(C)(iii), 

14 the Secretary shall take into account the following: 

15 ‘‘(I) The assessment by the family caregiver of 

16 the needs and limitations of the veteran. 

17 ‘‘(II) The extent to which the veteran can func18 tion safely and independently in the absence of such 

19 supervision, protection, or instruction. 

20 ‘‘(III) The amount of time required for the 

21 family caregiver to provide such supervision, protec22 tion, or instruction to the veteran.’’. 

23 (7) PERIODIC EVALUATION OF NEED FOR CER24 TAIN SERVICES.—Subsection (a)(3) of such section 


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1 is amended by adding at the end the following new 

2 subparagraph: 

3 ‘‘(D) In providing instruction, preparation, and train4 ing under subparagraph (A)(i)(I) and technical support 

5 under subparagraph (A)(i)(II) to each family caregiver 

6 who is approved as a provider of personal care services 

7 for an eligible veteran under paragraph (6), the Secretary 

8 shall periodically evaluate the needs of the eligible veteran 

9 and the skills of the family caregiver of such veteran to 

10 determine if additional instruction, preparation, training, 

11 or technical support under those subparagraphs is nec12 essary.’’. 

13 (8) USE OF PRIMARY CARE TEAMS.—Subsection 

14 (a)(5) of such section is amended, in the matter pre15 ceding subparagraph (A), by inserting ‘‘(in collabo16 ration with the primary care team for the eligible 

17 veteran to the maximum extent practicable)’’ after 

18 ‘‘evaluate’’. 

19 (9) ELIGIBILITY OF AND ASSISTANCE FOR FAM20 ILY CAREGIVERS.—Subsection (a) of such section is 

21 amended by adding at the end the following new 

22 paragraphs: 

23 ‘‘(11) Notwithstanding any other provision of this 

24 subsection, a family caregiver of an eligible veteran who 

25 is eligible under paragraph (2) solely because of a serious 


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1 injury or illness (including traumatic brain injury, psycho2 logical trauma, or other mental disorder) incurred or ag3 gravated in the line of duty in the active military, naval, 

4 or air service before September 11, 2001, is eligible for 

5 assistance under this subsection as follows: 

6 ‘‘(A) Not earlier than October 1, 2018, if the 

7 family caregiver would merit a monthly personal 

8 caregiver stipend under paragraph (3)(A)(ii)(V) in 

9 an amount that is in the highest tier specified in the 

10 schedule established by the Secretary under para11 graph (3)(C)(i). 

12 ‘‘(B) Not earlier than October 1, 2020, if the 

13 family caregiver would merit such a stipend in an 

14 amount that is in the middle tier specified in such 

15 schedule. 

16 ‘‘(C) Not earlier than October 1, 2022, if the 

17 family caregiver would merit such a stipend in an 

18 amount that is in the lowest tier specified in such 

19 schedule. 

20 ‘‘(12)(A) In providing assistance under this sub21 section to family caregivers of eligible veterans, the Sec22 retary may enter into contracts, provider agreements, and 

23 memoranda of understanding with Federal agencies, 

24 States, and private, nonprofit, and other entities to pro25 vide such assistance to such family caregivers. 


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1 ‘‘(B) The Secretary may provide assistance under 

2 this paragraph only if such assistance is reasonably acces3 sible to the family caregiver and is substantially equivalent 

4 or better in quality to similar services provided by the De5 partment. 

6 ‘‘(C) The Secretary may provide fair compensation 

7 to Federal agencies, States, and other entities that provide 

8 assistance under this paragraph.’’. 

9 (b) TERMINATION OF GENERAL CAREGIVER SUP10 PORT PROGRAM.— 

11 (1) IN GENERAL.—Subsection (b) of such sec12 tion is amended by adding at the end the following 

13 new paragraph: 

14 ‘‘(6) The authority of the Secretary to provide sup15 port services for caregivers of covered veterans under this 

16 subsection shall terminate on October 1, 2022.’’. 

17 (2) CONTINUATION OF CERTAIN ASSISTANCE.— 

18 The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall ensure that 

19 any activities carried out under subsection (b) of 

20 such section on September 30, 2022, are continued 

21 under subsection (a) of such section on and after 

22 October 1, 2022. 

23 (c) MODIFICATION OF DEFINITION OF FAMILY MEM24 BER.—Subparagraph (B) of subsection (d)(3) of such sec25 tion is amended to read as follows: 


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1 ‘‘(B) is not a member of the family of the 

2 veteran and does not provide care to the vet3 eran on a professional basis.’’. 

4 (d) MODIFICATION OF DEFINITION OF PERSONAL

5 CARE SERVICES.—Subsection (d)(4) of such section is 

6 amended— 

7 (1) in subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘inde8 pendent’’; 

9 (2) by redesignating subparagraph (B) as sub10 paragraph (D); and 

11 (3) by inserting after subparagraph (A) the fol12 lowing new subparagraphs: 

13 ‘‘(B) Supervision or protection based on 

14 symptoms or residuals of neurological or other 

15 impairment or injury. 

16 ‘‘(C) Regular or extensive instruction or 

17 supervision without which the ability of the vet18 eran to function in daily life would be seriously 

19 impaired.’’. 

20 (e) ANNUAL EVALUATION REPORT.—Paragraph (2) 

21 of section 101(c) of the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus 

22 Health Services Act of 2010 (Public Law 111–163; 38 

23 U.S.C. 1720G note) is amended to read as follows: 

24 ‘‘(2) CONTENTS.—Each report required by 

25 paragraph (1) after the date of the enactment of the 


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1 Veterans Choice Act of 2017 shall include the fol2 lowing with respect to the program of comprehensive 

3 assistance for family caregivers required by sub4 section (a)(1) of such section 1720G: 

5 ‘‘(A) The number of family caregivers that 

6 received assistance under such program. 

7 ‘‘(B) The cost to the Department of pro8 viding assistance under such program. 

9 ‘‘(C) A description of the outcomes 

10 achieved by, and any measurable benefits of, 

11 carrying out such program. 

12 ‘‘(D) An assessment of the effectiveness 

13 and the efficiency of the implementation of such 

14 program, including a description of any barriers 

15 to accessing and receiving care and services 

16 under such program. 

17 ‘‘(E) A description of the outreach activi18 ties carried out by the Secretary under such 

19 program. 

20 ‘‘(F) An assessment of the manner in 

21 which resources are expended by the Secretary 

22 under such program, particularly with respect 

23 to the provision of monthly personal caregiver 

24 stipends under subsection (a)(3)(A)(ii)(V) of 

25 such section 1720G. 


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1 ‘‘(G) An evaluation of the sufficiency and 

2 consistency of the training provided to family 

3 caregivers under such program in preparing 

4 family caregivers to provide care to veterans 

5 under such program. 

6 ‘‘(H) Such recommendations, including 

7 recommendations for legislative or administra8 tive action, as the Secretary considers appro9 priate in light of carrying out such program.’’. 

10 SEC. 203. AUTHORIZATION OF CERTAIN MAJOR MEDICAL 

11 FACILITY LEASES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF 

12 VETERANS AFFAIRS. 

13 The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may carry out the 

14 following major medical facility leases at the locations 

15 specified and in an amount for each lease not to exceed 

16 the amount specified for such location (not including any 

17 estimated cancellation costs): 

18 (1) For an outpatient clinic, Ann Arbor, Michi19 gan, an amount not to exceed $4,247,000. 

20 (2) For an outpatient mental health clinic, Bir21 mingham, Alabama, an amount not to exceed 

22 $6,649,000. 

23 (3) For research space, Boston, Massachusetts, 

24 an amount not to exceed $6,224,000. 


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1 (4) For research space, Charleston, South 

2 Carolina, an amount not to exceed $7,274,000. 

3 (5) For an outpatient clinic, Corpus Christi, 

4 Texas, an amount not to exceed $6,556,000. 

5 (6) For an outpatient clinic, Daytona Beach, 

6 Florida, an amount not to exceed $12,198,000. 

7 (7) For Chief Business Office Purchased Care 

8 office space, Denver, Colorado, an amount not to ex9 ceed $14,784,000. 

10 (8) For an outpatient clinic, Fredericksburg, 

11 Virginia, an amount not to exceed $45,015,000. 

12 (9) For an outpatient clinic, Gainesville, Flor13 ida, an amount not to exceed $7,891,000. 

14 (10) For an outpatient mental health clinic, 

15 Gainesville, Florida, an amount not to exceed 

16 $4,320,000. 

17 (11) For an outpatient clinic, Hampton Roads, 

18 Virginia, an amount not to exceed $18,141,000. 

19 (12) For a replacement outpatient clinic, Indi20 anapolis, Indiana, an amount not to exceed 

21 $7,876,000. 

22 (13) For a replacement outpatient clinic, Jack23 sonville, Florida, an amount not to exceed 

24 $18,623,000. 


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1 (14) For an outpatient clinic, Missoula, Mon2 tana, an amount not to exceed $6,942,000. 

3 (15) For an outpatient mental health clinic, 

4 Northern Colorado, Colorado, an amount not to ex5 ceed $8,904,000. 

6 (16) For an outpatient clinic, Ocala, Florida, 

7 an amount not to exceed $5,026,000. 

8 (17) For an outpatient clinic, Oxnard, Cali9 fornia, an amount not to exceed $5,274,000. 

10 (18) For an outpatient clinic, Pike County, 

11 Georgia, an amount not to exceed $5,565,000. 

12 (19) For a replacement outpatient clinic, Pitts13 burgh, Pennsylvania, an amount not to exceed 

14 $6,247,000. 

15 (20) For an outpatient clinic, Portland, Maine, 

16 an amount not to exceed $6,808,000. 

17 (21) For an outpatient clinic, Raleigh, North 

18 Carolina, an amount not to exceed $21,870,000. 

19 (22) For a replacement outpatient clinic, phase 

20 II, Rochester, New York, an amount not to exceed 

21 $3,645,000. 

22 (23) For research space, San Diego, California, 

23 an amount not to exceed $4,852,000. 

24 (24) For an outpatient clinic, Santa Rosa, Cali25 fornia, an amount not to exceed $6,922,000. 


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1 (25) For a replacement mental health clinic, 

2 Tampa, Florida, an amount not to exceed 

3 $13,387,000. 

4 (26) For a replacement outpatient clinic, Lake5 land, Tampa, Florida, an amount not to exceed 

6 $10,760,000. 

7 (27) For a replacement outpatient clinic, Terre 

8 Haute, Indiana, an amount not to exceed 

9 $4,102,000. 

10 TITLE III—ADMINISTRATION OF 

11 HEALTH CARE FROM NON-DE12 PARTMENT OF VETERANS AF13 FAIRS PROVIDERS 

14 SEC. 301. MODIFICATION OF PROCESS THROUGH WHICH 

15 DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS 

16 RECORDS OBLIGATIONS FOR NON-DEPART17 MENT CARE. 

18 (a) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter III of chapter 17 of 

19 title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the 

20 end the following new section: 

21 ‘‘§ 1730B. Recording obligations for care at non-De22 partment facilities 

23 ‘‘Notwithstanding sections 1341(a)(1) and 1501 of 

24 title 31, the Secretary may record as an obligation of the 

25 United States Government amounts owed for hospital care 


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1 or medical services furnished under this chapter at non2 Department facilities on the date on which a claim by a 

3 health care provider for payment is approved rather than 

4 on the date that the hospital care or medical services are 

5 authorized by the Secretary.’’. 

6 (b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections 

7 at the beginning of chapter 17 of such title is amended 

8 by inserting after the item relating to section 1730A the 

9 following new item: 

‘‘1730B. Recording obligations for care at non-Department facilities.’’. 

10 SEC. 302. MODIFICATION OF REPORT ON AMOUNTS AVAIL11 ABLE UNDER VETERANS CHOICE PROGRAM. 

12 Section 101(q)(2) of the Veterans Access, Choice, 

13 and Accountability Act of 2014 (Public Law 113–146; 38 

14 U.S.C. 1701 note) is amended— 

15 (1) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), 

16 by striking ‘‘30 days’’ and inserting ‘‘14 days’’; 

17 (2) by redesignating subparagraph (F) as sub18 paragraph (H); and 

19 (3) by inserting after subparagraph (E) the fol20 lowing new subparagraphs: 

21 ‘‘(F) An assessment of the rate at which 

22 amounts deposited in the Veterans Choice Fund 

23 have been exhausted during the 90-day period 

24 preceding the submittal of the report, including 

25 an identification of any major factors that are 


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1 causing amounts to be exhausted quickly or 

2 slowly. 

3 ‘‘(G) An estimate of when amounts in the 

4 Veterans Choice Fund will be completely ex5 hausted.’’. 

6 TITLE IV—OTHER MATTERS 

7 SEC. 401. EMERGENCY DESIGNATIONS. 

8 (a) IN GENERAL.—This Act is designated as an 

9 emergency requirement pursuant to section 4(g) of the 

10 Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010 (2 U.S.C. 933(g)). 

11 (b) DESIGNATION IN SENATE.—In the Senate, this 

12 Act is designated as an emergency requirement pursuant 

13 to section 403(a) of S. Con. Res. 13 (111th Congress), 

14 the concurrent resolution on the budget for fiscal year 

15 2010. 

Æ 


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