Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Veterans Increased Choice for Transplanted Organs and Recovery Act of 2017” or the “VICTOR Act of 2017”.
Veterans Increased Choice for Transplanted Organs and Recovery Act of 2017
AN ACT
To amend the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 to improve the access of veterans to organ transplants, and for other purposes.
Sec. 2 Organ transplants under the Veterans Choice Program
Section 101(b)(2) of the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 (Public Law 113–146; 38 U.S.C. 1701 note) is amended—
in subparagraph (C)(ii), by striking “or”;
in subparagraph (D)(ii)(II)(dd), by striking the period and inserting “; or”; and
by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
“(E)
“(i) requires an organ or bone marrow transplant; and
“(ii)
“(I) has, in the opinion of the primary health care provider of the veteran, a medically compelling reason to travel outside the region of the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network, established under section 372 of the National Organ Transplantation Act (Public Law 98–507; 42 U.S.C. 274), in which the veteran resides to receive such transplant at a medical facility of the Department; or
“(II) faces an unusual or excessive burden in receiving such transplant at a medical facility of the Department, including—
“(aa) geographical challenges;
“(bb) environmental factors, including roads that are not accessible to the general public, traffic, or hazardous weather;
“(cc) a medical condition of the veteran that affects the ability to travel; or
“(dd) other factors the Secretary determines appropriate, including the preference of the veteran to receive such transplant at a non-Department facility.”