Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Department of Veterans Affairs Income Eligibility Standardization Act”.
Department of Veterans Affairs Income Eligibility Standardization Act
A BILL
To amend title 38, United States Code, to expand entitlement of veterans to care from the Department of Veterans Affairs and to guarantee health care benefits for veterans enrolled in the patient enrollment system of the Department, and for other purposes.
Sec. 2 Expansion of entitlement of veterans to care from Department of Veterans Affairs
In general— Section 1710(a) of title 38, United States Code, is amended—
in paragraph (3)—
by striking “may, to the extent resources and facilities are available and” and inserting a comma; and
by striking “furnish hospital care, medical services, and nursing home care” and inserting “shall furnish hospital care and medical services, and may furnish nursing home care”; and
in paragraph (4), by striking “paragraphs (1) and (2)” and inserting “paragraphs (1), (2), and (3)”.
Priority— The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall eliminate all subcategories of priority for enrollment established by the Secretary for veterans eligible for enrollment under paragraph (8) of section 1705(a) of title 38, United States Code, and shall ensure that all veterans eligible for enrollment under such paragraph may enroll in the patient enrollment system of the Department of Veterans Affairs under such section.
Sec. 3 Guarantee of health care benefits for veterans enrolled in patient enrollment system of Department
The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall ensure that all veterans, once enrolled in the patient enrollment system of the Department of Veterans Affairs under section 1705(a) of title 38, United States Code, remain enrolled in such system and may continue receiving health care furnished by the Department if they choose, subject to such cost-sharing requirements as may apply to the veteran under existing provisions of law.