ACT for Veterans Act

Bill: 116-hr-2493
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Gibbs, Bob [R-OH-7]
Introduced: 2019-05-02
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Emergency medical services and trauma care

Health care coverage and access

Health facilities and institutions

Veterans' medical care
Latest action: action_date: 2019-05-15
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Summaries:
action_date: 2019-05-02
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><b>Addressing Care Timelines for Veterans Act or the ACT for Veterans Act</b></p> <p>This bill modifies the Veterans Community Care Program to extend the authorization period for emergency treatment in non-Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical facilities. Specifically, the bill requires the VA to deem as authorized emergency care or services provided by a non-VA health care provider to a covered veteran if such veteran applies for authorization within 96 hours (currently 72 hours under VA regulations) of admission for care. Covered veterans are those who are enrolled in the VA health care system or those who are not enrolled but are eligible for care due to a service-connected disability.</p>

tv_txt: I 116th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 2493 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES May 2, 2019 Mr. Gibbs (for himself, Mr. Balderson , Mr. King of Iowa , Mr. Meadows , Mr. Gallagher , and Mr. Fulcher ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs A BILL To amend title 38, United States Code, to extend the authorization period for emergency treatment in non-Department of Veterans Affairs medical facilities under the Veterans Community Care Program.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Addressing Care Timelines for Veterans Act or the ACT for Veterans Act . 2. Authorization period for emergency treatment in non-Department of Veterans Affairs medical facilities (a) Authorization period Section 1703(a)(3) of title 38, United States Code, is amended— (1) by striking A covered veteran and inserting (A) Except as provided by subparagraph (B), a covered veteran ; and (2) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph: (B) In the case of an emergency which existed at the time of admission of a covered veteran to a health care provider, the Secretary shall deem the care or services received by the veteran during such admission to be authorized under subparagraph (A) if the covered veteran (or an individual acting on behalf of the covered veteran) makes an application for such authorization during the period following such admission that the Secretary determines appropriate for purposes of this paragraph, except such period may not be less than 96 hours. . (b) Effective date The amendment made by subsection (a) shall take effect on the date specified in section 101(b) of the Caring for Our Veterans Act of 2018 ( 38 U.S.C. 1703 note; Public Law 115–182 ; 132 Stat. 1403).