EVEST Act

To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for the automatic enrollment of eligible veterans in patient enrollment system of Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Ensuring Veterans’ Smooth Transition Act EVEST Act 2. Automatic enrollment of eligible veterans in patient enrollment system of Department of Veterans Affairs (a) In general Section 1705 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: (d) (1) The Secretary shall enroll each veteran described in subsection (a) in the patient enrollment system under this section by not later than 60 days after receiving the information described in paragraph (3) with respect to the veteran. (2) Not later than 60 days after enrolling a veteran under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall provide to the veteran— (A) notice of the veteran’s enrollment; and (B) instructions for how the veteran may opt out of such enrollment, at the election of the veteran. (3) The information described in this paragraph is the appropriate information concerning eligibility for enrollment in the patient enrollment system under this section, as provided by the Defense Manpower Data Center of the Department of Defense, or such successor entity of the Department. . (b) Applicability Subsection (d) of section 1705 of title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), shall apply to a veteran with respect to whom the Secretary receives the information described in paragraph (3) of such subsection on or after the date of the enactment of this Act. (c) Electronic certificates of eligibility for Department of Veterans Affairs patient enrollment system Not later than August 1, 2022, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall ensure that any veteran who is eligible for automatic enrollment in the patient enrollment system under subsection (d) of section 1705 of title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), is able to access— (1) an electronic version of the certificate of eligibility showing the veteran’s eligibility for such enrollment; and (2) an electronic mechanism by which the veteran may opt out of such enrollment. January 6, 2022 Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed

Summary: Ensuring Veterans' Smooth Transition Act or the EVEST Act This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to automatically enroll veterans who are eligible for VA health care into the VA health care system upon the receipt of information from the Defense Manpower Data Center of the Department of Defense that proves eligibility of such veterans for enrollment. The VA must provide a veteran notice that the veteran has been enrolled, instructions on how the veteran may elect to opt out of such enrollment, and instructions for how such veteran may elect to enroll at a later date. Notice or instructions must be provided in a physical copy and, as is practical, in an electronic copy. Additionally, the VA must consider using mass texting capabilities to provide the notice and relevant instructions required by this bill. The provisions of the bill apply to veterans who are discharged or separated from the Armed Forces on or after the date that is 90 days before this bill's enactment. Any veteran who is eligible for automatic enrollment must be able to access an electronic version of the certificate of eligibility and an electronic mechanism to opt out of such enrollment. The Government Accountability Office must report on the best methods for the VA to provide notice regarding a veteran's automatic enrollment in the VA health care system and related instructions.