IIB 

110TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 1527 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

SEPTEMBER 11, 2008 

Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 

AN ACT 

To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct a pilot program 

to permit certain highly rural veterans enrolled in the 

health system of the Department of Veterans Affairs 

to receive covered health services through providers other 

than those of the Department. 


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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. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Rural Veterans Access 

5 to Care Act’’. 

6 SEC. 2. PILOT PROGRAM OF ENHANCED CONTRACT CARE 

7 AUTHORITY FOR HEALTH CARE NEEDS OF 

8 VETERANS IN HIGHLY RURAL AREAS. 

9 (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 1703 of title 38, United 

10 States Code, is amended by adding at the end the fol11 lowing new subsection: 

12 ‘‘(e)(1) The Secretary shall conduct a pilot program 

13 which permits highly rural veterans— 

14 ‘‘(A) who are enrolled in the system of patient 

15 enrollment established under section 1705(a) of this 

16 title, and 

17 ‘‘(B) who reside within Veterans Integrated 

18 Service Network 1, 15, 18, and 19, 

19 to elect to receive covered health services for which such 

20 veterans are eligible through a non-Department health21 care provider. 

22 ‘‘(2) The election under paragraph (1) shall be made 

23 by submitting an application to the Secretary in accord24 ance with such regulations as the Secretary prescribes. 

25 The Secretary shall authorize such services to be furnished 


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1 to the veteran pursuant to contracting with such a pro2 vider to furnish such services to such veteran. 

3 ‘‘(3) For purposes of this subsection, a highly rural 

4 veteran is one who— 

5 ‘‘(A) resides in a location that is— 

6 ‘‘(i) more than 60 miles driving distance 

7 from the nearest Department health-care facil8 ity providing primary care services, if the vet9 eran is seeking such services; 

10 ‘‘(ii) more than 120 miles driving distance 

11 from the nearest Department health-care facil12 ity providing acute hospital care, if the veteran 

13 is seeking such care; or 

14 ‘‘(iii) more than 240 miles driving distance 

15 from the nearest Department health-care facil16 ity providing tertiary care, if the veteran is 

17 seeking such care; or 

18 ‘‘(B) in the case of a veteran who resides in a 

19 location less than the distance indicated in clause 

20 (i), (ii), or (iii) of subparagraph (A), as applicable, 

21 experiences such hardship or other difficulties in 

22 travel to the nearest appropriate Department health23 care facility that such travel is not in the best inter24 est of the veteran, as determined by the Secretary 


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1 pursuant to regulations prescribed for purposes of 

2 this subsection. 

3 ‘‘(4) For purposes of this subsection, a covered health 

4 service is any hospital care, medical service, rehabilitative 

5 service, or preventative health service authorized to be pro6 vided by the Secretary under this chapter or any other 

7 provision of law. 

8 ‘‘(5) For purposes of this subsection, a health-care 

9 provider is any qualified entity or individual furnishing a 

10 covered health service. 

11 ‘‘(6) In meeting the requirements of this subsection, 

12 the Secretary shall develop the functional capability to 

13 provide for the exchange of medical information between 

14 the Department and non-Department health-care pro15 viders. 

16 ‘‘(7) This subsection shall apply to covered health 

17 services provided during the 3-year period beginning on 

18 the 120th day after the date of the enactment of this sub19 section. 

20 ‘‘(8) Not later than the 30th day after the close of 

21 each year of the period described in paragraph (7), the 

22 Secretary shall submit a report to the Committees of Vet23 erans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives and the 

24 Senate a report which includes— 


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1 ‘‘(A) the Secretary’s assessment of the program 

2 under this subsection, including its cost, volume, 

3 quality, patient satisfaction, benefit to veterans, and 

4 any other findings and conclusions of the Secretary 

5 with respect to such program, and 

6 ‘‘(B) any recommendations that the Secretary 

7 may have for— 

8 ‘‘(i) continuing the program, 

9 ‘‘(ii) extending the program to other or all 

10 service regions of the Department, and 

11 ‘‘(iii) making the program permanent.’’. 

12 (b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The Secretary of Veterans 

13 Affairs shall implement the amendment made by sub14 section (a) not later than the 120th day after the date 

15 of the enactment of this Act. 

Passed the House of Representatives September 10, 

2008. 

Attest: LORRAINE C. MILLER, 

Clerk. 


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