ACT for Veterans Act

Bill: 118-hr-3644
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Latta, Robert E. [R-OH-5]
Introduced: 2023-05-24
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Emergency medical services and trauma care

Health care coverage and access

Veterans' medical care
Latest action: action_date: 2024-04-16
text: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee (Amended) by Voice Vote.

Summaries:
action_date: 2023-05-24
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><strong>Addressing Care Timelines for Veterans Act or the ACT for Veterans Act</strong></p><p>This bill modifies the Veterans Community Care Program to extend the authorization period for emergency treatment furnished by non-Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care providers. Specifically, the bill authorizes the VA to deem as authorized emergency treatment provided to a covered veteran by a non-VA health care provider if such veteran or provider submits notification within 96 hours (currently 72 hours under VA regulations) of such emergency treatment. 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><!--tinycomments|2.1|data:application/json;base64,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-->

tv_txt: I 118th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 3644 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES May 24, 2023 Mr. Latta (for himself, Mrs. Harshbarger , Mr. Stewart , Mrs. Miller of Illinois , and Mr. Bentz ) 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. Extension of authorization period for emergency treatment in non-Department of Veterans Affairs medical facilities (a) Authorization period extended (1) In general Subsection (a)(3) of section 1703 of title 38, United States Code, is amended— (A) by striking A covered veteran and inserting (A) Except as provided by subparagraph (B), a covered veteran ; and (B) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph: (B) In the case of emergency treatment furnished to a covered veteran by a health care provider specified in subsection (c) in the course of care or services authorized under subparagraph (A), the Secretary may deem such emergency treatment to be authorized under such subparagraph if such covered veteran (or an individual acting on behalf of the covered veteran) or such health care provider submits to the Secretary a notification in such form and containing such information and assurances as the Secretary determines appropriate, except the Secretary may not require such notification to be submitted earlier than 96 hours after the date on which such health care provider furnishes such emergency treatment to such covered veteran. . (2) Emergency treatment defined Subsection (o) of such section is amended— (A) by redesignating paragraph (2) as paragraph (3); and (B) by inserting after paragraph (1), the following new paragraph: (2) The term emergency treatment has the meaning given such term in section 1725 of this title. . (b) Effective date The amendments made by subsection (a) shall take effect on the date that is one year after the date of the enactment of this Act.