I 

110TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 1527 

To amend title 38, United States Code, to allow 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, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MARCH 14, 2007 

Mr. MORAN of Kansas (for himself and Mr. LATHAM) introduced the following 

bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 

A BILL 

To amend title 38, United States Code, to allow 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, 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. 

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

5 to Care Act’’. 


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1 SEC. 2. ENHANCED CONTRACT CARE AUTHORITY FOR 

2 HEALTH CARE NEEDS OF VETERANS IN HIGH3 LY RURAL AREAS. 

4 (a) CONTRACT CARE FOR HIGHLY RURAL VET5 ERANS.—Section 1703 of title 38, United States Code, is 

6 amended by adding at the end the following new sub7 section: 

8 ‘‘(e)(1) A highly rural veteran who is enrolled in the 

9 system of patient enrollment established under section 

10 1705(a) of this title may elect to receive covered health 

11 services for which such veteran is eligible through a non12 Department health-care provider. Such an election shall 

13 be made by submission to the Secretary of an application 

14 in accordance with such regulations as the Secretary pre15 scribes. The Secretary shall authorize such services to be 

16 furnished to such veteran pursuant to contracting with 

17 such a provider to furnish such services to such veteran. 

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

19 veteran is one who— 

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

21 ‘‘(I) more than 60 miles driving distance 

22 from the nearest Department health-care facil23 ity providing primary care services, if the vet24 eran is seeking such services; 

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

26 from the nearest Department health-care facilVerDate Aug 31 2005 22:09 Mar 15, 2007 Jkt 059200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H1527.IH H1527

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1 ity providing acute hospital care, if the veteran 

2 is seeking such care; or 

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

4 from the nearest Department health-care facil5 ity providing tertiary care, if the veteran is 

6 seeking such care; or 

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

8 location less than the distance indicated in clause 

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

10 experiences such hardship or other difficulties in 

11 travel to the nearest appropriate Department health12 care facility that such travel is not in the best inter13 est of the veteran, as determined by the Secretary 

14 pursuant to regulations prescribed for purposes of 

15 this subsection. 

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

17 service is any hospital care, medical service, rehabilitative 

18 service, or preventative health service authorized to be pro19 vided by the Secretary under this chapter or any other 

20 provision of law. 

21 ‘‘(4) For purposes of this subsection, a health-care 

22 provider is any qualified entity or individual furnishing a 

23 covered health service. 

24 ‘‘(5) In meeting the requirements of this subsection, 

25 the Secretary shall— 


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1 ‘‘(A) consult with the Secretary of Health and 

2 Human Services to establish a partnership to coordi3 nate care for rural veterans conducted at critical ac4 cess hospitals, community health centers, and rural 

5 health clinics; and 

6 ‘‘(B) expand the use of fee-basis care through 

7 which private hospitals, health-care facilities, and 

8 other third-party health-care providers are reim9 bursed.’’. 

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

11 Affairs shall implement the amendment made by sub12 section (a) not later than October 1, 2008. 

13 SEC. 3. AUTHORITY OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AF14 FAIRS PHARMACIES TO DISPENSE MEDICA15 TIONS TO HIGHLY RURAL VETERANS ON PRE16 SCRIPTIONS WRITTEN BY NON-DEPARTMENT 

17 PRACTITIONERS. 

18 Section 1712 of title 38, United States Code, is 

19 amended by adding at the end the following new sub20 section: 

21 ‘‘(f) Subject to section 1722A of this title, the Sec22 retary shall furnish to a highly rural veteran, as described 

23 in section 1703(e)(2) of this title, such drugs and medi24 cines as may be ordered on prescription of a duly licensed 

25 physician in the treatment of any illness or injury of the 


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1 veteran. Such drugs and medicines shall be furnished in 

2 the same manner and subject to the same conditions as 

3 apply to a prescription written by a Department physi4 cian.’’. 

Æ 


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