Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Access to Veteran-Centered Community Care Act”.
Access to Veteran-Centered Community Care Act
A BILL
To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide hospital care and medical services in non-Department facilities for veterans waiting longer than 14 days for an appointment in a Department facility, and for other purposes.
Sec. 2 Department of Veterans Affairs provision of hospital care and medical services in non-Department facilities for veterans waiting 14 days or longer for an appointment
Section 1703 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
“(e)
“(1) In carrying out this section, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall determine that if any veteran has been waiting for 14 days or longer for an appointment to receive hospital care or medical services, including primary care, in a Department facility that the Department facility is not capable of furnishing the care or services required. The Secretary shall ensure that such care or services are provided to such a veteran at a non-Department facility under a contract under this section.
“(2) If, in the course of receiving hospital care or medical services in a non-Department facility, a veteran is referred to another non-Department facility for specialty care, such referral shall be submitted to the Secretary who may reject such referral during the 72-hour period following such submittal. If the Secretary does not reject the referral during such period, the Secretary shall ensure that such specialty care is provided to the veteran at a non-Department facility under a contract under this section.”