Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Access to Care and Treatment Now for Veterans Act” or the “ACT Now for Veterans Act”.
Access to Care and Treatment Now for Veterans Act
A BILL
To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to reimburse non-Department of Veterans Affairs medical providers for the provision of certain hospital care and medical services to veterans, and for other purposes.
Sec. 2 Reimbursement of non-Department of Veterans Affairs medical providers for the provision of certain hospital care and medical services to veterans
Reimbursement required— The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall reimburse any non-Department medical provider, including such a provider who has not been pre-approved by the Secretary, who furnishes covered hospital care or medical services to an eligible veteran.
Definitions— For purposes of this section:
The term “eligible veteran” means a veteran who—
is enrolled in the patient enrollment system under section 1705 of title 38, United States Code, and provides a Department of Veterans Affairs identification card or proof of such enrollment;
is eligible to receive hospital care or medical services furnished by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; and
attempts or has attempted to schedule an appointment at a Department of Veterans Affairs facility to receive such care or services but has been unable to schedule such appointment within 30 days of the date preferred by the veteran.
The term “covered hospital care or medical services” means, with respect to an eligible veteran, hospital care or medical services (as such terms are defined in section 1701 of title 38, United States Code) for which the veteran is eligible under chapter 17 of title 38, United States Code.
Termination— The authority under this section shall terminate on—
in the case that, before the date that is one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary submits to Congress certification that the Veterans Health Administration is meeting wait-time goals established by the Secretary, the date that is one year after the date of the enactment of this Act; or
in the case that the Secretary does not submit such certification before such date, the date that is two years after the date of the enactment of this Act.
Implementation— The Secretary shall begin implementing this section on the date of the enactment of this Act.