IIB 
110TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 1527 
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 
SEPTEMBER 11, 2008 
Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 
AN ACT 
To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Sec-
retary of Veterans Affairs to conduct a pilot program 
to permit certain 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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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 fol-
lowing 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 
‘‘(B) who reside within Veterans Integrated 
Service Network 1, 15, 18, and 19, 
to elect to receive covered health services for which such 
veterans 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 
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to the veteran pursuant to contracting with such a pro-
vider 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 facil-
ity providing primary care services, if the vet-
eran is seeking such services; 
‘‘(ii) more than 120 miles driving distance 
from the nearest Department health-care facil-
ity 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 facil-
ity 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, 
experiences such hardship or other difficulties in 
travel to the nearest appropriate Department health- 
care facility that such travel is not in the best inter-
est of the veteran, as determined by the Secretary 
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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 
provision of law. 
‘‘(5) For purposes of this subsection, a health-care 
provider is any qualified entity or individual furnishing a 
covered 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 Department and non-Department health-care pro-
viders. 
‘‘(7) This subsection shall apply to covered health 
services provided during the 3-year period beginning on 
the 120th day after the date of the enactment of this sub-
section. 
‘‘(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 Vet-
erans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives and the 
Senate a report which includes— 
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‘‘(A) the Secretary’s assessment of the program 
under this subsection, including its cost, volume, 
quality, 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 
Affairs shall implement the amendment made by sub-
section (a) not later than the 120th day after the date 
of the enactment of this Act. 
Passed the House of Representatives September 10, 
2008. 
Attest: 
LORRAINE C. MILLER, 
Clerk. 
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