Care Veterans Deserve Act of 2021
Bill: H.R.112 | Sponsor: Rep. Hudson, Richard (R-NC)
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security

Summary:
Care Veterans Deserve Act of 2021
This bill expands the availability of care for veterans at Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) facilities and non-VA facilities.
Specifically, the bill requires the VA to furnish hospital care, medical services, and extended care services via providers under the Veterans Community Care Program to veterans with a service-connected disability rated at 50% or more who elect to receive care or services through a non-VA provider.
The bill requires the VA to extend the operating hours of its pharmacies.
The VA must enter into contracts with physicians and nurses to work at VA medical facilities during nights and weekends.
Finally, the bill authorizes the VA to provide for a best-practices peer review of each VA medical center by a nongovernmental hospital organization to evaluate the efficacy of the care provided at each center. VA medical centers with the longest wait times for appointments or the worst health outcomes shall be given priority for peer review.

To make certain improvements in the provision of medical care by the 
        Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Care Veterans Deserve Act of 2021''.

SEC. 2. ELIGIBILITY OF CERTAIN VETERANS WITH SERVICE-CONNECTED 
              DISABILITIES TO RECEIVE NON-DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS 
              AFFAIRS MEDICAL CARE UNDER VETERANS COMMUNITY CARE 
              PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--Paragraph (1) of subsection (d) of section 1703 of 
title 38, United States Code, as amended by section 101 of the Caring 
for Our Veterans Act of 2018 (Public Law 115-182) is amended--
            (1) in subparagraph (D), by striking ``or'' at the end;
            (2) in subparagraph (E), by striking the period and 
        inserting ``; or''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
                    ``(F) the covered veteran has a service-connected 
                disability rated at 50 percent or higher and elects to 
                receive care or services through a non-Department 
                provider.''.
    (b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsection (a) shall 
apply as if originally enacted in the Caring for Our Veterans Act of 
2018 (Public Law 115-182).

SEC. 3. EXTENSION OF OPERATING HOURS FOR PHARMACIES AND MEDICAL 
              FACILITIES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

    (a) Extension of Operating Hours for Pharmacies.--The Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs shall extend the operating hours for each pharmacy of 
the Department of Veterans Affairs during which the pharmacy offers 
services comparable to retail pharmacies to include--
            (1) operation on Saturday, Sunday, and Federal holidays; 
        and
            (2) operation until 8:00 p.m. on weekdays that are not 
        Federal holidays.
    (b) Contracts With Providers During Nights and Weekends.--The 
Secretary shall enter into contracts, including through locum tenens 
arrangements, with physicians and nurses that meet qualifications set 
forth by the Secretary for purposes of this section under which such 
physicians and nurses work at medical facilities of the Department 
during nights and weekends.
    (c) Support Staff.--The Secretary may obtain additional support 
staff as necessary to carry out this section, including by hiring 
employees or contracting for services.

SEC. 4. CONDUCT OF BEST-PRACTICES PEER REVIEW OF EACH MEDICAL CENTER OF 
              THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may provide for 
the conduct by a nongovernmental hospital organization of a best-
practices peer review of each medical center of the Department of 
Veterans Affairs to evaluate the efficacy of health care delivered at 
each such medical center.
    (b) Priority.--The Secretary shall give priority for peer review 
conducted under subsection (a) to the medical centers of the Department 
with the longest wait times for an appointment or the worst health 
outcomes, as determined by the Secretary.
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