1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Veterans Health Equity Act of 2013”.
Veterans Health Equity Act of 2013
A BILL
To amend title 38, United States Code, to ensure that veterans in each of the 48 contiguous States are able to receive services in at least one full-service hospital of the Veterans Health Administration in the State or receive comparable services provided by contract in the State.
2. Availability of full-service hospital of the Veterans Health Administration in certain States or provision of comparable services through contract with other health care providers in the State
In general— Chapter 17 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 1716 the following new section:
“1716A. Access to full-service hospitals in certain States or comparable services through contract
“(a) Requirement—With respect to each of the 48 contiguous States, the Secretary shall ensure that veterans in the State eligible for hospital care and medical services under section 1710 of this title have access—
“(1) to at least one full-service hospital of the Veterans Health Administration in the State; or
“(2) to hospital care and medical services comparable to the services provided in full-service hospitals through contract with other health care providers in the State.
“(b) Rule of construction—Nothing in subsection (a) shall be construed to restrict the ability of the Secretary to provide enhanced care to an eligible veteran who resides in one State in a hospital of the Veterans Health Administration in another State.”
Clerical amendment— The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 1716 the following new item:
Report on implementation— Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to Congress a report describing the extent to which the Secretary has complied with the requirement imposed by section 1716A of title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), including the effect of such requirement on improving the quality and standards of care provided to veterans.