Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Addressing Care Timelines for Veterans Act” or the “ACT for Veterans Act”.
Addressing Care Timelines for Veterans Act
A BILL
To amend title 38, United States Code, to extend the authorization period for emergency treatment in non-Department of Veterans Affairs medical facilities under the Veterans Community Care Program.
Sec. 2 Authorization period for emergency treatment in non-Department of Veterans Affairs medical facilities
Authorization period— Section 1703(a)(3) of title 38, United States Code, is amended—
by striking “A covered veteran” and inserting “(A) Except as provided by subparagraph (B), a covered veteran”; and
by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
“(B) In the case of an emergency which existed at the time of admission of a covered veteran to a health care provider, the Secretary shall deem the care or services received by the veteran during such admission to be authorized under subparagraph (A) if the covered veteran (or an individual acting on behalf of the covered veteran) makes an application for such authorization during the period following such admission that the Secretary determines appropriate for purposes of this paragraph, except such period may not be less than 96 hours.”
Effective date— The amendment made by subsection (a) shall take effect on the date specified in section 101(b) of the Caring for Our Veterans Act of 2018 (38 U.S.C. 1703 note; Public Law 115–182; 132 Stat. 1403).