I 
112TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1460 
To provide for automatic enrollment of veterans returning from combat zones 
into the VA medical system, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
APRIL 8, 2011 
Mr. OWENS introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee 
on Veterans’ Affairs 
A BILL 
To provide for automatic enrollment of veterans returning 
from combat zones into the VA medical system, 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. AUTOMATIC ENROLLMENT OF VETERANS RE-
TURNING FROM COMBAT ZONES INTO THE VA 
MEDICAL SYSTEM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 45 days after the 
date 
on 
which 
a 
veteran 
described 
in 
section 
1710(e)(1)(D) of title 38, United States Code, is dis-
charged or separated from service in the active military, 
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naval, or air service, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, 
in cooperation with the Secretary of Defense, shall— 
(1) enroll such veteran in the patient enroll-
ment system maintained by the Secretary under sec-
tion 1705 of that title; and 
(2) provide such veteran with— 
(A) a veterans identification card that— 
(i) demonstrates that such veteran is 
enrolled in such system; and 
(ii) allows such veteran to access hos-
pital care and medical services at Depart-
ment of Veterans Affairs medical facilities; 
(B) a list of Department of Veterans Af-
fairs medical facilities (including hospitals, out-
patient centers, and mental health clinics) that 
are— 
(i) located within 100 miles of the 
home of the veteran; or 
(ii) the closest to the veteran’s home, 
if no such facilities are located within 100 
miles of the home of the veteran; and 
(C) a description of available Federal vet-
erans benefits and programs, including edu-
cational benefits and job training and place-
ment programs, which the veteran may be eligi-
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ble for due to the veteran’s service in the active 
military, naval, or air service. 
(b) OPT OUT PROVISIONS.— 
(1) PRIOR TO ENROLLMENT.— 
(A) OPTION NOT TO ENROLL.—During the 
discharge or separation process for a person 
from active military, naval, or air service, and 
prior to enrolling the person pursuant to sub-
section (a)(1), the Secretary of Veterans Af-
fairs, in coordination with the Secretary of De-
fense, shall provide the person with the option 
to decline such enrollment. 
(B) NOTICE TO SECRETARY; PROHIBITION 
ON ENROLLMENT.—If a person provides notice 
to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs that the 
person is declining enrollment under subpara-
graph (A), the Secretary may not enroll the 
person pursuant to subsection (a)(1). 
(2) SUBSEQUENT TO ENROLLMENT.— 
(A) NOTICE
TO
SECRETARY.—Not later 
than 6 months after the date on which a vet-
eran is enrolled under section 1705 of title 38, 
United States Code, pursuant to subsection 
(a)(1), a veteran so enrolled may disenroll from 
the patient enrollment system under such sec-
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tion by providing notice to the Secretary of Vet-
erans Affairs. 
(B) DISENROLLMENT.—Not later than 60 
days after receiving notice from a veteran under 
subparagraph (A), the Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs shall disenroll such veteran from such 
patient enrollment system. 
(c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—This section shall take effect 
on the date that is 90 days after the date of the enactment 
of this Act. 
Æ 
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