H.R. 4915 (110th): VALOR Act

110th Congress, 2007–2009. Text as of Dec 19, 2007 (Introduced).

Status & Summary | PDF | Source: GPO

HR 4915 IH

110th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 4915

To amend title 38, United States Code, to expand access to hospital care for veterans in urban areas, and for other purposes.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

December 19, 2007

Ms. PRYCE of Ohio (for herself, Mr. HOBSON, and Mr. TIBERI) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs

A BILL

To amend title 38, United States Code, to expand access to hospital care for veterans in urban areas, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the `Veterans' Access to Local Options for Recovery Act of 2007' or the `VALOR Act'.

SEC. 2. PROVISION OF IN-PATIENT CARE TO URBAN VETERANS.

    Section 1703 of title 38, United States Code, is amended--

      (1) in subsection (a), by striking `When Department facilities' and inserting `Subject to subsection (e), when Department facilities'; and

      (2) by adding at the end the following:

    `(e)(1) Subject to the availability of appropriations, the Secretary may seek to enter into a contract with a non-Department facility located in an eligible metropolitan statistical area to provide hospital care and medical services to veterans. Under such contract, the non-Department facility shall provide hospital care and medical services for which the veteran seeking such services is eligible under section 1710 of this title.

    `(2) The Secretary shall ensure that the contract under paragraph (1) provides for payment by the Secretary to the non-Department facility. Such payment shall be--

      `(A) for hospital care and medical services provided to a veteran by the non-Department facility, including payment for--

        `(i) emergency care;

        `(ii) non-emergency hospital care services; and

        `(iii) inpatient medical services; and

      `(B) shall be limited to payment for hospital care and medical services for which the veteran is eligible under section 1710 of this title.

    `(3) For the purposes of this subsection--

      `(A) the term `inpatient medical services' means medical services provided to an inpatient of a hospital; and

      `(B) the term `eligible metropolitan statistical area' means a metropolitan statistical area (as defined by the Director of the Office of Budget and Management) with--

        `(i) a total civilian population of at least 1,000,000;

        `(ii) a total veteran population of at least 90,000; and

        `(iii) no Department facility capable of providing hospital care services or inpatient medical services.'.