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Q: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ''Veterans Comprehensive Hepatitis C
Health Care Act''.

SEC. 2. COMPREHENSIVE HEPATITIS C HEALTH CARE TESTING AND TREATMENT
PROGRAM FOR VETERANS.

(a) In General.--(1) Chapter 17 of title 38, United States Code, is
amended by inserting after section 1720E the following new section:
''Sec. 1720F. Hepatitis C testing and treatment
''(a) Initial Testing.--(1) During the one-year period beginning on
the date of the enactment of the Veterans Comprehensive Hepatitis C
Health Care Act, the Secretary shall provide a blood test for the
Hepatitis C virus to--
''(A) each veteran who served in the active military,
naval, or air service during the Vietnam era or who is
considered to be 'at risk,' and is enrolled to receive care
under section 1710 of this title who requests the test or is
otherwise receiving a physical examination or any care or
treatment from the Secretary; and
''(B) to any other veteran who requests the test.
''(2) After the end of the period referred to in paragraph (1), the
Secretary shall provide a blood test for the Hepatitis C virus to any
veteran who requests the test.
''(b) Followup Testing and Treatment.--In the case of any veteran
who tests positive for the Hepatitis C virus, the Secretary--
''(1) shall provide such followup tests as are considered
medically appropriate; and
''(2) shall provide appropriate treatment for that veteran
in accordance with the national protocol for the treatment of
Hepatitis C.
''(c) Status of Care.--(1) Treatment shall be provided under
subsection (b) without regard to whether the Hepatitis C virus is
determined to be service-connected and without regard to priority group
categorization of the veteran. No copayment may be charged for
treatment under subsection (b), and no third-party reimbursement may be
sought or accepted, under section 1729 of this title or any other
provision of law, for testing or treatment under subsection (a) or (b).
''(2) Paragraph (1) shall cease to be in effect upon the effective
date of a determination by the Secretary or by Congress that the
occurrence of the Hepatitis C virus in specified veterans shall be
presumed to be service-connected.
''(d) Staffing.--(1) The Secretary shall require that each
Department medical center employ at least one full-time
gastroenterologist, hepatologist, or other qualified physician to
provide tests and treatment for the Hepatitis C virus under this
section.
''(2) The Secretary shall, to the extent practicable, ensure that
each Department medical center has at least one staff member assigned
to work, in coordination with Hepatitis C medical personnel, to
coordinate treatment options for Hepatitis C patients and provide
information and counseling for those patients and their families. Such
a staff member should preferably be trained in psychology or psychiatry
or be a social worker.
''(3) In order to improve treatment provided to veterans with the
Hepatitis C virus, the Secretary shall provide increased training
options to Department health care personnel.''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of
such chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating to section
1720E the following new item:

''1720F. Hepatitis C testing and treatment.''.

SEC. 3. FUNDING FOR HEPATITIS C PROGRAMS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS
AFFAIRS.

(a) Program Account.--Beginning with fiscal year 2004, amounts
appropriated for the Department of Veterans Affairs for Hepatitis C
detection and treatment shall be provided, within the ''Medical Care''
account, through the ''Specific Purpose'' subaccount, rather than the
''VERA'' subaccount.
(b) Allocation of Funds to VISNs.--In allocating funds appropriated
for the Department of Veterans Affairs for the ''Medical Care'' account
to the Veterans Integrated Service Networks, the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs shall allocate funds for detection and treatment of the
Hepatitis C virus based upon incidence rates of that virus among
veterans (rather than based upon the overall population of veterans) in
each such network.
(c) Limitation on Use of Funds.--Amounts appropriated for the
Department of Veterans Affairs for Hepatitis C detection and treatment
through the ''Specific Purpose'' subaccount may not be used for any
other purpose.

SEC. 4. NATIONAL POLICY.

(a) Standardized Nationwide Policy.--The Secretary of Veterans
Affairs shall develop and implement a standardized policy to be applied
throughout the Department of Veterans Affairs health care system with
respect to the Hepatitis C virus. The policy shall include the testing
protocol for the Hepatitis C virus, treatment options, education and
notification efforts, and establishment of a specific Hepatitis C
diagnosis code for measurement and treatment purposes.
(b) Outreach.--The Secretary shall, on an annual basis, take
appropriate actions to notify veterans who have not been tested for the
Hepatitis C virus of the need for such testing and the availability of
such testing from the Department of Veterans Affairs.

SEC. 5. HEPATITIS C CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE.

(a) Establishment.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall
establish at least one, and not more than three, additional Hepatitis C
centers of excellence or additional sites at which activities of
Hepatitis C centers of excellence are carried out. Each such additional
center or site shall be established at a Department of Veterans Affairs
medical center in one of the five geographic service areas (known as a
Veterans Integrated Service Network) with the highest case rate of
Hepatitis C in fiscal year 1999.
(b) Funding.--Funding for the centers or sites established under
subsection (a) shall be provided from amounts available to the Central
Office of the Department of Veterans Affairs and shall be in addition
to amounts allocated for Hepatitis C pursuant to section 3.
A:
Veterans Comprehensive Hepatitis C Health Care Act - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, during the first year after the enactment of this Act, to provide a blood test for the Hepatitis C virus to: (1) each veteran who served on active military duty during the Vietnam era, or who is considered to be "at risk," and who is enrolled to receive veterans' medical care and requests such care or is otherwise receiving a physical examination or any other care or treatment from the Secretary; and (2) any other veteran who requests such test. Requires the Secretary, after such period, to provide such test to any veteran who requests it. Requires the Secretary to provide followup tests and appropriate treatment for any veteran who tests positive. Prohibits a copayment from being charged for such treatment.Provides funding for Department Hepatitis C detection and treatment programs, beginning with FY 2004.Directs the Secretary to: (1) develop and implement a standardized Department policy with respect to such virus; and (2) annually take appropriate outreach actions to notify untested veterans.Directs the Secretary to establish at least one and no more than three additional Hepatitis C centers of excellence within the Department health care network. Provides funding.