I 
112TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2203 
To establish a pilot program under which veterans in the State of Alaska 
may receive health care benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs 
at non-Department medical facilities, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JUNE 15, 2011 
Mr. YOUNG of Alaska introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 
A BILL 
To establish a pilot program under which veterans in the 
State of Alaska may receive health care benefits from 
the Department of Veterans Affairs at non-Department 
medical facilities, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Alaska Hero’s Card 
Act of 2011’’. 
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SEC. 2. PILOT PROGRAM ON PROVISION OF HEALTH CARE 
TO VETERANS RESIDING IN ALASKA AT NON- 
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS MED-
ICAL FACILITIES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
shall establish a pilot program to assess the feasibility and 
advisability of carrying out a program by which a covered 
veteran can, except as provided in subsection (f), receive 
necessary hospital care or medical services for any condi-
tion at any hospital or medical facility or from any medical 
provider eligible to receive payments under— 
(1) the Medicare program under title XVIII of 
the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395 et seq.); 
(2) the Medicaid program under title XIX of 
such Act (42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.); 
(3) the TRICARE program; or 
(4) the Indian health program. 
(b) COVERED VETERAN.—For purposes of this sec-
tion, a covered veteran is any veteran who— 
(1) is entitled to hospital care or medical serv-
ices under laws administered by the Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs; 
(2) is located in the State of Alaska; and 
(3) resides at a location that is located in— 
(A) such State; and 
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(B) a town, village, or other community 
that is not accessible by motor vehicle (as de-
fined in section 30102 of title 49, United States 
Code). 
(c) DURATION OF PILOT.—The pilot program shall 
be carried out during the two-year period beginning on 
the date of the enactment of this Act. 
(d) COST OF CARE AND SERVICE.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The cost of any hospital 
care or medical service provided under the pilot pro-
gram shall be borne by the United States from 
amounts other than amounts appropriated or other-
wise made available for an Indian health program. 
(2) NO BILLING OF VETERANS.—The Secretary 
shall take measures to ensure that covered veterans 
are not billed for the hospital care and medical serv-
ices they receive under the pilot program. 
(e) ALASKA HERO CARD.—In carrying out the pilot 
program, the Secretary shall issue to each covered veteran 
a card to be known as an ‘‘Alaska Hero Card’’ that such 
veteran may present to an authorized provider to establish 
the covered veteran’s eligibility for hospital care and med-
ical services under the pilot program. 
(f) AUTHORIZED PROVIDERS.—The Secretary may 
establish a list of authorized providers from whom a cov-
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ered veteran may receive hospital care and medical serv-
ices under the pilot program. 
(g) MEASURES TO ENSURE QUALITY AND SAFETY 
OF CARE.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary shall take 
such measures as may be necessary to ensure that 
the quality and safety of care provided to veterans 
under the pilot program is equal to or better than 
the quality and safety of care otherwise provided by 
the Department of Veterans Affairs. 
(2) SPECIFIC
MEASURES.—The measures de-
scribed in paragraph (1) may include requirements 
relating to the following: 
(A) Credentialing and accreditation of pro-
viders of hospital care or medical services. 
(B) Timely reporting of access to care. 
(C) Timely reporting of clinical informa-
tion to the Secretary. 
(D) Reporting safety issues, patient com-
plaints, and patient satisfaction. 
(E) Robust quality programs, including 
peer review and compliance with industry 
standards and requirements. 
(3) PROVIDERS CERTIFIED BY INDIAN HEALTH 
SERVICE.—For purposes of the pilot program, the 
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Secretary shall consider the equality and safety of 
care provided by a provider described in subsection 
(a)(2) who is certified by the Indian Health Service 
as a community health aide pursuant to section 119 
of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act (25 
U.S.C. 1616l) and who is providing services within 
the scope of such certification as being equal to or 
better than the quality and safety of care otherwise 
provided by the Department. 
(h) SAVINGS.—Nothing in this section shall be con-
strued to limit any right of recovery available to an Indian 
health program under the provisions of section 206 or 
405(c) of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act (25 
U.S.C. 1621e and 1645(c)), or any other Federal or State 
law. 
(i) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) HOSPITAL CARE AND MEDICAL SERVICES.— 
The terms ‘‘hospital care’’ and ‘‘medical services’’ 
have the meanings given such terms in section 1701 
of title 38, United States Code. 
(2) INDIAN HEALTH PROGRAM.—The term ‘‘In-
dian health program’’ has the meaning given such 
term in section 4 of the Indian Health Care Im-
provement Act (25 U.S.C. 1603). 
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(3) SERVICE-CONNECTED.—The term ‘‘service- 
connected’’ has the meaning given such term in sec-
tion 101 of such title. 
(4) 
TRICARE 
PROGRAM.—The 
term 
‘‘TRICARE program’’ has the meaning given such 
term in section 1072 of title 10, United States Code. 
Æ 
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