Veterans State Eligibility Standardization Act
Bill: S.3020 | Sponsor: Sen. Sanders, Bernard (I-VT)
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security

Summary:
Veterans State Eligibility Standardization Act
This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to make modifications related to areas of residence and variable income thresholds for purposes of determining whether veterans qualify for treatment as low-income families for enrollment in the VA health care system.
The bill also requires the VA to ensure that all veterans who enroll in the VA health care system remain eligible to continue receiving health care furnished by the VA, subject to cost-sharing requirements that apply under current law.

To require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to modify the eligibility 
   of veterans for treatment as a low-income family for purposes of 
   enrollment in the patient enrollment system of the Department of 
  Veterans Affairs and to guarantee health care benefits for veterans 
            enrolled in such system, 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 ``Veterans State Eligibility 
Standardization Act''.

SEC. 2. MODIFICATION OF DETERMINATION OF ELIGIBILITY OF VETERANS FOR 
              TREATMENT AS A LOW-INCOME FAMILY FOR PURPOSES OF 
              ENROLLMENT IN THE PATIENT ENROLLMENT SYSTEM OF THE 
              DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

    (a) Areas of Residence.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
modify the areas in which veterans reside as specified for purposes of 
determining whether veterans qualify for treatment as low-income 
families for enrollment in the patient enrollment system of the 
Department of Veterans Affairs under section 1705(a)(7) of title 38, 
United States Code, to meet the requirements as follows:
            (1) Any area so specified shall be within only one State.
            (2) Any area so specified shall be coextensive with one or 
        more counties (or similar political subdivisions) in the State 
        concerned.
    (b) Variable Income Thresholds.--The Secretary shall modify the 
thresholds for income as specified for purposes of determining whether 
veterans qualify for treatment as low-income families for enrollment in 
the patient enrollment system referred to in subsection (a) to meet the 
requirements as follows:
            (1) There shall be one income threshold for each State, 
        equal to 100 percent of the highest income threshold among--
                    (A) the counties or metropolitan statistical areas 
                within such State; and
                    (B) any metropolitan statistical area that 
                encompasses territory of such State and one or more 
                other States.
            (2) The calculation of the highest income threshold of a 
        county or metropolitan statistical area shall be consistent 
        with the calculation used for purposes of section 3(b) of the 
        United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437a(b)).
            (3) The timing and methodology for implementing any 
        modifications in geographic income thresholds pursuant to 
        paragraph (1) shall be determined by the Secretary in such a 
        manner as to permit the Department to build capacity for 
        enrolling such additional veterans in the patient enrollment 
        system of the Department as become eligible for enrollment as a 
        result of such modifications, except that all required 
        modifications shall be completed not later than five years 
        after date of the enactment of this Act.
    (c) Metropolitan Statistical Area.--In this section, the term 
``metropolitan statistical area'' has the meaning given that term by 
the Office of Management and Budget.

SEC. 3. GUARANTEE OF HEALTH CARE BENEFITS FOR ENROLLED VETERANS.

    The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall ensure that all veterans, 
once enrolled in the patient enrollment system of the Department of 
Veterans Affairs under section 1705(a) of title 38, United States Code, 
remain enrolled in such system and may continue receiving health care 
furnished by the Department if they choose, subject to such cost-
sharing requirements as may apply to the veteran under existing 
provisions of law.
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