ACT Now for Veterans Act

To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to reimburse non-Department of Veterans Affairs medical providers for the provision of certain hospital care and medical services to veterans, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Access to Care and Treatment Now for Veterans Act ACT Now for Veterans Act 2. Reimbursement of non-Department of Veterans Affairs medical providers for the provision of certain hospital care and medical services to veterans (a) Reimbursement required The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall reimburse any non-Department medical provider, including such a provider who has not been pre-approved by the Secretary, who furnishes covered hospital care or medical services to an eligible veteran. (b) Definitions For purposes of this section: (1) The term eligible veteran (A) is enrolled in the patient enrollment system under section 1705 (B) is eligible to receive hospital care or medical services furnished by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; and (C) attempts or has attempted to schedule an appointment at a Department of Veterans Affairs facility to receive such care or services but has been unable to schedule such appointment within 30 days of the date preferred by the veteran. (2) The term covered hospital care or medical services section 1701 chapter 17 (c) Termination The authority under this section shall terminate on— (1) in the case that, before the date that is one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary submits to Congress certification that the Veterans Health Administration is meeting wait-time goals established by the Secretary, the date that is one year after the date of the enactment of this Act; or (2) in the case that the Secretary does not submit such certification before such date, the date that is two years after the date of the enactment of this Act. (d) Implementation The Secretary shall begin implementing this section on the date of the enactment of this Act.

Summary: Access to Care and Treatment Now for Veterans Act or the ACT Now for Veterans Act - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) to reimburse any non-VA medical provider, including such a provider who has not been pre-approved by the Secretary, who furnishes covered hospital care or medical services to an eligible veteran. Defines &quot;covered hospital care or medical services&quot; as hospital care or medical services for which the veteran is eligible under the VA health care program. Defines an &quot;eligible veteran&quot; as a veteran who: (1) is enrolled in the VA patient enrollment system and provides a VA identification card or proof of such enrollment, (2) is eligible to receive hospital care or medical services furnished by the Secretary, and (3) has been unable to schedule an appointment at a VA facility to receive such care or services within 30 days of the date preferred by the veteran. Terminates the authority under this Act: (1) one year after this Act's enactment if the Secretary certifies that the Veterans Health Administration is meeting wait-time goals, or (2) two years after this Act's enactment if the Secretary has not submitted such certification.