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107TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. R. 4852
To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for the geographic alloca-
tion of funds made available to the Department of Veterans Affairs
for medical care on a basis that better reflects the veterans population
of different regions of the country and that accounts for significant
shifts in the veterans populations in those regions, and for other pur-
poses.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
MAY 23, 2002
Mr. WELDON of Florida introduced the following bill; which was referred to
the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs
A BILL
To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for the
geographic allocation of funds made available to the De-
partment of Veterans Affairs for medical care on a basis
that better reflects the veterans population of different
regions of the country and that accounts for significant
shifts in the veterans populations in those regions, 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 ‘‘Veterans Medical Care
Improvement and Equity Act of 2002’’.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress makes the following findings:
(1) The current Veterans Equitable Resource
Allocation (VERA) system fails to adequately dis-
tribute Department of Veterans Affairs medical care
resources to where veterans actually reside in ac-
cordance with section 429 of Public Law 104–204
(110 Stat. 2929).
(2) The number of veterans seeking medical
care in the Department of Veterans Affairs health
care system is far outstripping the ability of that
system to provide care to all veterans in need.
(3) There are currently thousands of Category
1 through 6 veterans with service-connected disabil-
ities who are on waiting lists to enroll in the Depart-
ment of Veterans Affairs health care system.
(4) There are Category 7 veterans with serious
health care needs who are enrolled or awaiting en-
rollment in the Department of Veterans Affairs
health care system.
SEC. 3. REVISION TO GEOGRAPHIC ALLOCATION METHOD
FOR FUNDS APPROPRIATED FOR VETERANS
MEDICAL CARE.
(a) IN GENERAL.—(1) In applying the VERA system
to the allocation of VA medical care funds for any fiscal
year among the geographic service areas of the Veterans
Health Administration, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs
shall make such allocation in accordance with this section.
In determining the number of veterans served by any such
geographic service area for purposes of such allocations,
the Secretary shall include all veterans who are enrolled
in the Department of Veterans Affairs health care system
and all veterans who have contacted the Department of
Veterans Affairs and are awaiting enrollment in the De-
partment of Veterans Affairs health care system.
(2) Data used in determining the number of veterans
enrolled or awaiting enrollment for purposes of this section
shall be as current as possible as of the beginning of the
fiscal year and shall be no more than six months old.
(b) MID-YEAR REVIEW.—The Secretary of Veterans
Affairs shall conduct a mid-year review of the allocations
under subsection (a) for any fiscal year for the purpose
of making adjustments based upon changes in the number
of veterans enrolled or awaiting enrollment in the Depart-
ment of Veterans Affairs health care system. Such review
shall be completed in time to make any adjustments in
such allocations effective for the two most recent quarters
of the fiscal year, and the Secretary shall make such ad-
justments to achieve equity of access to those veterans as
soon as practicable upon completion of such mid-year re-
view. Data used for such review shall be as current as
possible as of the time of the mid-year review and shall
be no more than six months old.
(c) DEFINITIONS.—For purposes of this section:
(1) The term ‘‘VA medical care funds’’ means
funds appropriated for any fiscal year to the Depart-
ment of Veterans Affairs for medical care.
(2) The term ‘‘VERA system’’ means the Vet-
erans Equitable Resource Allocation system estab-
lished pursuant to section 429 of Public Law 104–
204 (110 Stat. 2929).
SEC. 4. PRIORITIZATION FOR ENROLLMENT AND CARE.
The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall provide for
priority in the enrollment of veterans in the Department
of Veterans Affairs health care system, and in the fur-
nishing of care and services through that system, in ac-
cordance with the following categories, with priority in the
order listed:
(1) Any veteran with an emergent or urgent
care need.
(2) Any veteran described in any of paragraphs
(1) through (6) of section 1705(a) of title 38,
United States Code, and any veteran described in
paragraph (7) of such section who has a serious
health care need that if not treated would place the
veteran’s life in jeopardy.
(3) Any veteran not described in paragraph (1)
or (2).
SEC. 5. EFFECTIVE DATE.
This Act shall take effect upon enactment and shall
apply with respect to funds appropriated for fiscal year
2003 and thereafter.
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