A bill to ensure that veterans receive timely and effective health care under the Veterans Community Care Program and Veterans Care Agreements during the COVID-19 emergency, and for other purposes.

To ensure that veterans receive timely and effective health care under the Veterans Community Care Program and Veterans Care Agreements during the COVID–19 emergency, and for other purposes. 1. Community care for veterans during COVID–19 emergency (a) Veterans Community Care Program and Veterans Care Agreements (1) Eligibility for COVID–19 care During the period of a covered public health emergency, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall furnish COVID–19 care, regardless of whether such care is for a service-connected disability— (A) under section 1703 of title 38, United States Code, to any veteran described in subsection (b) of such section; and (B) under section 1703A of such title, to any individual described in subsection (l) of such section. (2) Preauthorization for certain services not required (A) In general During the period of a covered public health emergency, in carrying out section 1703(a)(3) of title 38, United States Code, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall treat medical care and services described in subparagraph (B) as being authorized by the Secretary under such section, regardless of whether the Secretary is notified of such care by any deadline otherwise required by the Secretary for purposes of such section. (B) Medical care and services described The medical care and services described in this subparagraph are the following: (i) COVID–19 care. (ii) Emergency medical care and services. (b) Emergency treatment (1) Rule During the period of a covered public health emergency, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall administer claims for payments relating to emergency COVID–19 care as follows: (A) If the community care provider that furnished the care is an eligible provider under section 1703 of title 38, United States Code, the Secretary shall administer the claim pursuant to that section. (B) If the community care provider has entered into a Veterans Care Agreement under section 1703A of such title, the Secretary shall administer the claim pursuant to that section. (C) If the community care provider is not described in subparagraph (A) or (B), the Secretary shall administer the claim pursuant to section 1725 or 1728 of such title, as the case may be. (2) Scope of treatment During the period of a covered public health emergency, emergency COVID–19 care furnished to veterans shall be deemed to be emergency treatment for purposes of sections 1725 and 1728 of title 38, United States Code, regardless of whether— (A) such care meets the requirements of subparagraphs (A) and (B) of subsection (f)(1) of such section 1725; or (B) such care is furnished after the veteran can be transferred, or is accepted for a transfer, to a facility of the Department of Veterans Affairs or other Federal facility as described in clauses (i) and (ii) of subparagraph (C) of such subsection. (3) Enrollment requirements During the period of a covered public health emergency, in carrying out section 1725 of title 38, United States Code, the Secretary shall determine whether a veteran who receives emergency COVID–19 care is an active Department health care participant under subsection (b) of such section without regard to whether the veteran meets the requirement in paragraph (2)(B) of such subsection. (4) Submission of claims During the period of a covered public health emergency, subsection (b) of section 1703D of title 38, United States Code, shall apply with respect to community care providers furnishing emergency COVID–19 care to veterans pursuant to sections 1725 and 1728 of title 38, United States Code. (c) Primary payer (1) In general During the period of a covered public health emergency, notwithstanding section 1725 of title 38, United States Code, or any other provision of law, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall be the primary payer with respect to COVID–19 care furnished to veterans, including with respect to the transportation of a veteran by ambulance. (2) Reimbursement The Secretary may seek reimbursement from any third party that would otherwise be liable for COVID–19 care furnished to a veteran or obligated to provide or to pay the expenses of such care, including pursuant to a health-plan contract. (d) Application This section shall apply to medical care or services furnished during the period of a covered public health emergency, regardless of whether such care or services were furnished before the date of the enactment of this Act. (e) Definitions In this section: (1) The term community care provider health care entity or provider (2) The term covered public health emergency (A) of a public health emergency, based on an outbreak of COVID–19, by the Secretary of Health and Human Services under section 319 of the Public Health Service Act ( 42 U.S.C. 247d (B) of a domestic emergency, based on an outbreak of COVID–19, by the President, the Secretary of Homeland Security, or a State or local authority. (3) The term COVID–19 care chapter 17 (4) The term health-plan contract third party

Summary: This bill sets forth policies and procedures related to medical care for veterans covered under the Veterans Community Care Program and Veterans Care Agreements during the COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) emergency period. Specifically, the bill authorizes covered veterans to receive care for COVID-19 diagnosis or treatment under the Veterans Community Care Program and Veterans Care Agreements during the COVID-19 emergency period, regardless of whether such care is for a service-connected disability. Emergency medical care and COVID-19 care shall not require Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) preauthorization during the emergency period. The bill prescribes how the VA shall administer claims for payments relating to emergency COVID-19 care, depending on whether the community care provider is (1) an eligible provider under the Veterans Community Care Program, (2) party to a Veterans Care Agreement, or (3) not eligible under the Veterans Community Care Program or part of a Veterans Care Agreement. The bill classifies emergency treatment for COVID-19 as emergency treatment eligible for coverage by the VA. The VA shall determine whether a veteran who receives emergency care for COVID-19 is an active VA health care participant without regard to whether the veteran has received VA medical care in the two years preceding such emergency care. Finally, the bill specifies that, during the emergency period, community care providers that furnish emergency COVID-19 care are required to submit a claim for payment to the VA within 180 days of such care.