Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Veterans’ Access to Care Concerning Inoculations Needed in Emergency Situations Act” or the “VACCINES Act”.
Veterans’ Access to Care Concerning Inoculations Needed in Emergency Situations Act
A BILL
To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to furnish tests and vaccinations to veterans during public health emergencies.
Sec. 2 Testing and vaccinations of veterans during public health emergency
In general— Subchapter II of chapter 17 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section:
“1720K. Testing and vaccinations during public health emergency
“(a) Testing and vaccinations—During a public health emergency, the Secretary shall furnish to veterans—
“(1) diagnostic products to detect the disease relating to the emergency; and
“(2) vaccinations for such disease.
“(b) Prohibition on copayments—The Secretary may not require any copayment or other cost sharing under this chapter for any diagnostic product or vaccine furnished under subsection (a).
“(c) Outreach—The Secretary shall conduct outreach to ensure that veterans are aware of the diagnostic products and vaccines furnished under subsection (a) during a public health emergency.
“(d) Definitions—In this section:
“(1) The term public health emergency means a period in which an emergency is declared by a Federal authority.
“(2) The term veteran includes—
“(A) any veteran without regard to whether the veteran is enrolled, or is eligible to enroll, in the system of annual patient enrollment of the Department established and operated under section 1705(a) of this title; and
“(B) a veteran who is eligible for care under section 1724.”
Clerical amendment— The table of sections at the beginning of subchapter II of chapter 17 of such title is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 1720J the following new item: