IB 
Union Calendar No. 530 
110TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 1527 
[Report No. 110–817] 
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 Depart-
ment, 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 
AUGUST 1, 2008 
Additional sponsors: Mrs. EMERSON, Mr. HASTINGS of Washington, Mr. PE-
TERSON of Pennsylvania, Mr. MARSHALL, Mr. MILLER of Florida, Mr. 
ENGLISH of Pennsylvania, Mr. CUELLAR, Mr. GILLMOR, Mr. TIAHRT, 
Mr. PETERSON of Minnesota, Mr. NEUGEBAUER, Mr. CAMP of Michigan, 
Mr. DOOLITTLE, Mr. LAHOOD, Mr. TERRY, Mr. BOREN, Mr. KLINE of 
Minnesota, Mr. HARE, Mr. SALAZAR, Mr. BRADY of Texas, Mrs. BOYDA 
of Kansas, Mr. WALDEN of Oregon, Mr. RODRIGUEZ, Mr. MICHAUD, Mr. 
BUYER, Ms. BORDALLO, Mr. YOUNG of Alaska, Mr. SIMPSON, and Mr. 
SHUSTER 
AUGUST 1, 2008 
Reported with amendments, committed to the Committee of the Whole House 
on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed 
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[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic] 
[For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on March 14, 2007] 
A BILL 
To amend title 38, United States Code, to allow highly 
rural veterans enrolled in the health system of the De-
partment of Veterans Affairs to receive covered health 
services through providers other than those of the De-
partment, 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 ‘‘Rural Veterans Access 
to Care Act’’. 
SEC. 2. PILOT PROGRAM OF ENHANCED CONTRACT CARE 
AUTHORITY FOR HEALTH CARE NEEDS OF 
VETERANS IN HIGHLY RURAL AREAS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 1703 of title 38, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following 
new subsection: 
‘‘(e)(1) The Secretary shall conduct a pilot program 
which permits highly rural veterans— 
‘‘(A) who are enrolled in the system of patient 
enrollment established under section 1705(a) of this 
title, and 
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‘‘(B) who reside within Veterans Integrated Serv-
ice Network 1, 15, 18, and 19, 
to elect to receive covered health services for which such vet-
erans are eligible through a non-Department health-care 
provider. 
‘‘(2) The election under paragraph (1) shall be made 
by submitting an application to the Secretary in accord-
ance with such regulations as the Secretary prescribes. The 
Secretary shall authorize such services to be furnished to 
the veteran pursuant to contracting with such a provider 
to furnish such services to such veteran. 
‘‘(3) For purposes of this subsection, a highly rural 
veteran is one who— 
‘‘(A) resides in a location that is— 
‘‘(i) more than 60 miles driving distance 
from the nearest Department health-care facility 
providing primary care services, if the veteran is 
seeking such services; 
‘‘(ii) more than 120 miles driving distance 
from the nearest Department health-care facility 
providing acute hospital care, if the veteran is 
seeking such care; or 
‘‘(iii) more than 240 miles driving distance 
from the nearest Department health-care facility 
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providing tertiary care, if the veteran is seeking 
such care; or 
‘‘(B) in the case of a veteran who resides in a 
location less than the distance indicated in clause (i), 
(ii), or (iii) of subparagraph (A), as applicable, expe-
riences such hardship or other difficulties in travel to 
the nearest appropriate Department health-care facil-
ity that such travel is not in the best interest of the 
veteran, as determined by the Secretary pursuant to 
regulations prescribed for purposes of this subsection. 
‘‘(4) For purposes of this subsection, a covered health 
service is any hospital care, medical service, rehabilitative 
service, or preventative health service authorized to be pro-
vided by the Secretary under this chapter or any other pro-
vision of law. 
‘‘(5) For purposes of this subsection, a health-care pro-
vider is any qualified entity or individual furnishing a cov-
ered health service. 
‘‘(6) In meeting the requirements of this subsection, the 
Secretary shall develop the functional capability to provide 
for the exchange of medical information between the Depart-
ment and non-Department health-care providers. 
‘‘(7) This subsection shall apply to covered health serv-
ices provided during the 3-year period beginning on the 
120th day after the date of the enactment of this subsection. 
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‘‘(8) Not later than the 30th day after the close of each 
year of the period described in paragraph (7), the Secretary 
shall submit a report to the Committees of Veterans’ Affairs 
of the House of Representatives and the Senate a report 
which includes— 
‘‘(A) the Secretary’s assessment of the program 
under this subsection, including its cost, volume, qual-
ity, patient satisfaction, benefit to veterans, and any 
other findings and conclusions of the Secretary with 
respect to such program, and 
‘‘(B) any recommendations that the Secretary 
may have for— 
‘‘(i) continuing the program, 
‘‘(ii) extending the program to other or all 
service regions of the Department, and 
‘‘(iii) making the program permanent.’’. 
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The Secretary of Veterans Af-
fairs shall implement the amendment made by subsection 
(a) not later than the 120th day after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act. 
Amend the title so as to read: ‘‘A bill to amend title 
38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Vet-
erans Affairs to conduct a pilot program to permit cer-
tain 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.’’. 
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