I 
113TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 5286 
To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for a more equitable 
geographic allocation of funds appropriated to the Department of Vet-
erans Affairs for medical care. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JULY 30, 2014 
Mr. LARSON of Connecticut 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 a 
more equitable geographic allocation of funds appro-
priated to the Department of Veterans Affairs for med-
ical care. 
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 Equitable 
Treatment Act’’. 
SEC. 2. STANDARD FOR TIME FOR REFERRAL FOR SPE-
CIALIST CARE. 
(a) TIME FOR SPECIALIST APPOINTMENTS.— 
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(1) REQUIREMENT.—The Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs shall establish by regulation a maximum spe-
cialist referral period, subject to such exceptions as 
the Secretary considers necessary. 
(2) SPECIALIST REFERRAL PERIOD DEFINED.— 
For purposes of paragraph (1), the term ‘‘specialist 
referral period’’ means the period of time between 
(A) the date on which a veteran is referred to a spe-
cialty clinic of the Department by the veteran’s pri-
mary care physician within the Department of Vet-
erans Affairs health care system, and (B) the date 
for which the veteran is scheduled for an appoint-
ment with a Department specialist pursuant to such 
referral. 
(3) DEPARTMENT POLICIES.—In establishing a 
maximum specialist referral period under paragraph 
(1), the Secretary shall act in a manner consistent 
with the current treatment policies of the Depart-
ment based on clinical need and with the established 
30–30–20 performance goal of the Department for 
such a referral period. 
(b) STANDARD
FOR TRANSPORTATION.—The Sec-
retary shall take such steps as necessary to ensure that 
the Department of Veterans Affairs is able to provide ap-
propriate transportation services for qualified veterans 
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within a reasonable time period of a scheduled appoint-
ment. 
SEC. 3. CONTRACT CARE TO BE PROVIDED WHEN DEPART-
MENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS CARE NOT 
AVAILABLE IN ACCORDANCE WITH STAND-
ARDS. 
(a) CONTRACT CARE.—In any case in which the Sec-
retary of Veterans Affairs is not able to provide hospital 
care or medical services in accordance with the standard 
prescribed under section 2(a) or to provide transportation 
services in accordance with section 2(b), the Secretary 
shall promptly provide for such care or transportation 
from a private source. Hospital care or medical services 
so provided shall be those for which the veteran is other-
wise eligible within the Department of Veterans Affairs 
medical care system. 
(b) REIMBURSEMENT RATE.—Whenever care or serv-
ices are provided under subsection (a), the Secretary shall 
reimburse the provider of such care or services for the rea-
sonable value of such care or services, as determined by 
the Secretary. Such reimbursement shall be provided in 
the same manner as applies to reimbursement for emer-
gency treatment under section 1725 of title 38, United 
States Code, subject to such of the terms and conditions 
otherwise applicable to such reimbursements under such 
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section as the Secretary determines to be appropriate for 
purposes of this section. 
(c) EXPEDITED REIMBURSEMENT PROCEDURES.— 
The Secretary shall take appropriate steps to expedite the 
reimbursement required by subsection (b) and consistent 
with the Veterans Health Administration policy that 90 
percent of all non-VA Contract Care claims are processed 
within 30 days of receipt. Such steps may include steps 
to make use of advanced technology, such as smart card 
technology that would allow claims for such reimburse-
ment to be processed electronically. The Secretary shall, 
to the extent possible, also apply such steps for expediting 
reimbursement to claims for emergency services provided 
to veterans for which the Secretary provides reimburse-
ment under provisions of law in effect before the date of 
the enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 4. TERMINATION OF 24-MONTH RULE FOR REIM-
BURSEMENT FOR EMERGENCY SERVICES. 
The provisions of subparagraph (B) of section 
1725(b)(2) of title 38, United States Code, shall not apply 
with respect to emergency treatment furnished on or after 
the date of the enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 5. REPORTS. 
The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the 
Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and House 
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of Representatives a report at the end of each fiscal-year 
quarter on the waiting times for appointments in the De-
partment of Veterans Affairs medical care system. The re-
port shall describe any reductions in such waiting times 
and any experience with appointment delays. 
Æ 
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