Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Veterans Access to Care Act”.
Veterans Access to Care Act
A BILL
To amend the Public Health Service Act to designate certain medical facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs as health professional shortage areas, and for other purposes.
Sec. 2 Designation of medical facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs as health professional shortage areas
PHSA— Section 332(a)(1) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 254e(a)(1)) is amended in the second sentence by inserting “and medical facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs (including State homes, as defined in section 101(19) of title 38, United States Code)” after “(42 U.S.C. 1395x(aa)),”.
Concurrent benefits—
Scholarship program— Section 338A(b) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 254l(b)) is amended—
in paragraph (3), by striking “and”;
in paragraph (4), by striking the period and inserting “; and”; and
by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
“(5) not be participating in the Department of Veterans Affairs Health Professionals Educational Assistance Program under chapter 76 of title 38, United States Code.”
Debt reduction program— Section 338B(b) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 254l–1(b)) is amended—
in paragraph (2), by striking “and”;
in paragraph (3), by striking the period and inserting “; and”; and
by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
“(4) not be participating in the Department of Veterans Affairs Health Professionals Educational Assistance Program under chapter 76 of title 38, United States Code.”
Consultation— In carrying out the National Health Service Corps Program under subpart II of part D of title III of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 254d et seq.), the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall consult with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs with respect to health professional shortage areas that are medical facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs (including State homes, as defined in section 101(19) of title 38, United States Code).
Effective date— The amendments made by this section shall take effect on the date that is 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.