summary
Introduced
02/16/2017
02/16/2017
In Committee
03/03/2017
03/03/2017
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
12/31/2018
12/31/2018
Introduced Session
115th Congress
Bill Summary
Care Veterans Deserve Act of 2017 This bill amends the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 to make the Veterans Choice Program permanent. Program eligibility is expanded to include veterans with a 50% service-connected disability. The VA shall contract with a national chain of walk-in clinics to provide hospital care and medical services in such clinics to veterans who are in the annual patient enrollment system. A veteran shall not be required to: (1) obtain pre-authorization for such care, or (2) pay a copayment to the clinic or to the VA. Such national chain shall establish an automated system to provide the VA with weekly information on veterans receiving hospital care or medical services. A covered health care professional may practice his or her health care profession at any location in any state, regardless of where such health care professional or the patient is located, if the health care professional is using telemedicine to treat an individual. Such treatment is permitted regardless of whether the professional or patient is located in a federally-owned facility. "Covered health care professional" means a health care professional who is: (1) authorized by the VA to provide health care, including a private health care professional who provides such care under a VA contract or agreement; and (2) licensed, registered, or certified in a state to practice his or her health care profession. The VA shall: extend the operating hours for each VA pharmacy to include weekday evenings until until 8:00 p.m., weekends, and federal holidays; and contract with qualifying physicians and nurses to work at VA medical facilities during nights and weekends. The VA may: (1) hire support staff in connection with such extended operating hours, and (2) provide for a a nongovernmental hospital organization best-practices peer review of each VA medical center.
AI Summary
This bill:
1. Makes the Veterans Choice Program, which allows eligible veterans to receive care from non-VA healthcare providers, permanent. It expands eligibility for the program to include veterans with a 50% service-connected disability.
2. Requires the VA to contract with a national chain of walk-in clinics to provide hospital care and medical services to enrolled veterans, with no requirement for pre-authorization or copayment.
3. Allows VA healthcare professionals to provide telemedicine services across state lines, regardless of the location of the provider or patient.
4. Requires the VA to extend pharmacy operating hours to include weekday evenings, weekends, and federal holidays, and to contract with physicians and nurses to work at VA medical facilities during nights and weekends.
5. Allows the VA to conduct best-practices peer reviews of its medical centers, prioritizing those with the longest wait times or worst health outcomes.
The bill aims to improve access to healthcare for veterans by expanding the Veterans Choice Program, providing more convenient care options, and extending the operating hours of VA facilities.
Committee Categories
Health and Social Services, Military Affairs and Security
Sponsors (4)
Last Action
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health. (on 03/03/2017)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/1152/all-info |
| BillText | https://www.congress.gov/115/bills/hr1152/BILLS-115hr1152ih.pdf |
| Bill | https://www.congress.gov/115/bills/hr1152/BILLS-115hr1152ih.pdf.pdf |
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