Sec. 403. PILOT PROGRAM OF ENHANCED CONTRACT CARE AUTHORITY FOR HEALTH CARE NEEDS OF VETERANS IN HIGHLY RURAL AREAS
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## SEC. 403 PILOT PROGRAM OF ENHANCED CONTRACT CARE AUTHORITY FOR HEALTH CARE NEEDS OF VETERANS IN HIGHLY RURAL AREAS **[**[38 U.S.C. 1703 note](/us/usc/t38/s1703)**]** ###
(a)Pilot Program Required ####
(1)In general The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall conduct a pilot program under which the Secretary provides covered health services to covered veterans through qualifying non-Department of Veterans Affairs health care providers. ####
(2)Commencement The Secretary shall commence the conduct of the pilot program on the date that is 120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act. ####
(3)Duration A veteran may receive health services under this section during the period beginning on the date specified in paragraph
(2)and ending on September 30, 2017. ####
(4)Program locations The Secretary shall carry out the pilot program at locations in the following Veterans Integrated Service Networks (and such other locations as the Secretary considers appropriate): #####
(A)Veterans Integrated Service Network 1. #####
(B)Veterans Integrated Service Network 6. #####
(C)Veterans Integrated Service Network 15. #####
(D)Veterans Integrated Service Network 18. #####
(E)Veterans Integrated Service Network 19. ###
(b)Covered Veterans For purposes of the pilot program under this section, a covered veteran is any veteran who— ####
(1)is— #####
(A)enrolled in the system of patient enrollment established under section 1705(a) of title 38, United States Code, as of August 1, 2014; or #####
(B)eligible for health care under section 1710(e)(3) of such title; and ####
(2)resides in a location that is— #####
(A)more than 60 minutes driving distance from the nearest Department health care facility providing primary care services, if the veteran is seeking such services; #####
(B)more than 120 minutes driving distance from the nearest Department health care facility providing acute hospital care, if the veteran is seeking such care; or #####
(C)more than 240 minutes driving distance from the nearest Department health care facility providing tertiary care, if the veteran is seeking such care. ###
(c)Covered Health Services For purposes of the pilot program under this section, a covered health service with respect to a covered veteran is any hospital care, medical service, rehabilitative service, or preventative health service that is authorized to be provided by the Secretary to the veteran under chapter 17 of title 38, United States Code, or any other provision of law. ###
(d)Qualifying Non-Department Health Care Providers For purposes of the pilot program under this section, an entity or individual is a qualifying non-Department health care provider of a covered health service if the Secretary determines that the entity or individual is qualified to furnish such service to veterans under the pilot program. ###
(e)Election A covered veteran seeking to be provided covered health services under the pilot program under this section shall submit to the Secretary an application therefor in such form, and containing such information as the Secretary shall specify for purposes of the pilot program. ###
(f)Provision of Services Through Contract The Secretary shall provide covered health services to veterans under the pilot program under this section through contracts with qualifying non-Department health care providers for the provision of such services. ###
(g)Exchange of Medical Information In conducting the pilot program under this section, the Secretary shall develop and utilize a functional capability to provide for the exchange of appropriate medical information between the Department and non- Department health care providers providing health services under the pilot program. ###
(h)Appointments In carrying out the pilot program under this section, the Secretary shall ensure that medical appointments for covered veterans— ####
(1)are scheduled not later than 5 days after the date on which the appointment is requested; and ####
(2)occur not later than 30 days after such date. ###
(i)Outreach The Secretary shall ensure that covered veterans are informed about the pilot program under this section. ###
(j)Use of Existing Contracts Notwithstanding any provision of law relating to the use of competitive procedures in entering into contracts, in carrying out the pilot program under this section after the date of the enactment of the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014, the Secretary shall make use of contracts entered into under this section before such date or may enter into new contracts. ###
(k)Reports Not later than the 30 days after the end of each year in which the pilot program under this section is conducted, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee of Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives a report which includes— ####
(1)the assessment of the Secretary of the pilot program during the preceding year, including its cost, volume, quality, patient satisfaction, benefit to veterans, and such other findings and conclusions with respect to pilot program as the Secretary considers appropriate; and ####
(2)such recommendations as the Secretary considers appropriate regarding— #####
(A)the continuation of the pilot program; #####
(B)extension of the pilot program to other or all Veterans Integrated Service Networks of the Department; and #####
(C)making the pilot program permanent. * * * * * * *
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Sec. 403
PILOT PROGRAM OF ENHANCED CONTRACT CARE AUTHORITY FOR HEALTH CARE NEEDS OF VETERANS IN HIGHLY RURAL AREAS
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