I 
116TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 6591 
To ensure that veterans receive timely and effective health care under the 
Veterans Community Care Program and Veterans Care Agreements dur-
ing the COVID–19 emergency, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
APRIL 21, 2020 
Mr. PAPPAS introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee 
on Veterans’ Affairs 
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 emer-
gency, 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. COMMUNITY CARE FOR VETERANS DURING 
COVID–19 EMERGENCY. 
(a) VETERANS COMMUNITY CARE PROGRAM
AND 
VETERANS CARE AGREEMENTS.— 
(1) ELIGIBILITY.—During the period of a cov-
ered public health emergency, any veteran covered 
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by subsection (b) of section 1703 or subsection (l) 
of section 1703A of title 38, United States Code, 
may receive COVID–19 care pursuant to such re-
spective section, regardless of whether such care is 
for a service-connected disability. 
(2) PREAUTHORIZATION 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 hospital 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 Sec-
retary for purposes of such section. 
(B) HOSPITAL CARE AND SERVICES DE-
SCRIBED.—The hospital care and services de-
scribed in this subparagraph are the following: 
(i) COVID–19 care. 
(ii) Emergency medical care and serv-
ices. 
(b) EMERGENCY TREATMENT.— 
(1) RULE.—During the period of a covered 
public health emergency, the Secretary of Veterans 
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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 pursu-
ant to that section. 
(B) If the community care provider has en-
tered 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) of this 
paragraph, 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 
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(B) such care is furnished after the vet-
eran can be transferred, or is accepted for a 
transfer, to a facility of the Department of Vet-
erans Affairs or other Federal facility as de-
scribed 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 vet-
eran 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 para-
graph (2)(B) of such subsection. 
(4) SUBMISSION OF CLAIMS.—During the pe-
riod 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.—During the period of a covered 
public health emergency, notwithstanding section 1725 of 
title 38, United States Code, or any other provision of law, 
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