Veterans Health Care Improvement Act of 2003

Bill: 108-hr-2357
Sponsor: Rep. Brown-Waite, Ginny [R-FL-5]
Introduced: 2003-06-05 in the House
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Access to health care
Administrative procedure
Aliens
Asian American ethnic groups
Chiropractic and chiropractors
Collective bargaining
Congress
Congressional oversight
Congressional reporting requirements
Continuing education
Department of Veterans Affairs
East Asia
Education
Federal employees
Government Operations and Politics
Guerrilla warfare
Health
Higher education
History
Hospital care
Law
Long-term care
Medical education
Medical malpractice
Medical residents
Negligence
Nursing homes
Performance measurement
Philippines
Salaries
Social Welfare
Standards
Veterans' hospitals
Veterans' medical care
World War II

Summary:
action_date: 2003-06-05
text: 
Establishes a standard for access to care for veterans seeking care from the Department of Veterans Affairs of 30 days from the date the veteran contacts the Department seeking an appointment until the date on which a visit with a primary care provider is completed, or 30 days from the date on which the veteran is referred for specialty care until that date on which a visit with an appropriate specialty care provider is completed.
 
Directs the Secretary to develop and disseminate an appropriate standard of waiting time between the time a veteran's visit is scheduled and the time the veteran is seen by the provider. Requires periodic review of the performance of Department facilities compared to that standard.
 
Requires the Secretary, when unable to meet the standard for access to care, to furnish health care and services for that veteran in a non-Department facility.

action_date: 2003-07-10
text: 
Veterans Health Care Improvement Act of 2003 - Authorizes the appointment of, and provision of medical care by, chiropractors within the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) of the Department of Veterans Affairs. Includes chiropractors within VHA provisions concerning: (1) qualifications of appointees, periods of appointment, and pay grades; (2) temporary and part-time appointments; (3) residencies and internships; (4) malpractice and negligence protection; (5) treatment as scarce medical specialists for contracting purposes; (6) reimbursement for continuing professional education expenses; and (7) collective bargaining exemptions.
 
Directs (current law authorizes) the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to furnish hospital and nursing home care and medical services for any illness or injury that is a service-connected disability of any Commonwealth Army veteran or new Philippine Scout who: (1) is residing in the United States; and (2) is a citizen or lawfully admitted alien for permanent residence. Requires the Secretary to certify to the congressional veterans' committees, for each fiscal year, that sufficient resources are available to provide such care and services. 

action_date: 2003-07-21
text: 

(This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the House on July 10, 2003. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

 
Veterans Health Care Improvement Act of 2003 - Authorizes the appointment of, and provision of medical care by, chiropractors within the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) of the Department of Veterans Affairs. Includes chiropractors within VHA provisions concerning: (1) qualifications of appointees, periods of appointment, and pay grades; (2) temporary and part-time appointments; (3) residencies and internships; (4) malpractice and negligence protection; (5) treatment as scarce medical specialists for contracting purposes; (6) reimbursement for continuing professional education expenses; and (7) collective bargaining exemptions.
 
Directs (current law authorizes) the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to furnish hospital and nursing home care and medical services for any illness or injury that is a service-connected disability of any Commonwealth Army veteran or new Philippine Scout who: (1) is residing in the United States; and (2) is a citizen or lawfully admitted alien for permanent residence. Requires the Secretary to certify to the congressional veterans' committees, for each fiscal year, that sufficient resources are available to provide such care and services. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-07-22
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2003-07-21
text: The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2003-07-21
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2003-07-21
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H7187)
action_date: 2003-07-21
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H7187)
action_date: 2003-07-21
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 2357.
action_date: 2003-07-21
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H7187-7189)
action_date: 2003-07-21
text: Mr. Simmons moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
action_date: 2003-07-10
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 102.
action_date: 2003-07-10
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. H. Rept. 108-198.
action_date: 2003-07-10
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. H. Rept. 108-198.
action_date: 2003-06-26
text: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
action_date: 2003-06-26
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2003-06-24
text: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee in the Nature of a Substitute by Voice Vote.
action_date: 2003-06-24
text: Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2003-06-19
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2003-06-05
text: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2003-06-05
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H5032-5033)
action_date: 2003-06-05
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2003-06-05
text: Introduced in House