HR 5555 — Care Veterans Deserve Act of 2020

Summary

Care Veterans Deserve Act of 2020 This bill expands the availability of care for veterans at Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) facilities and non-VA facilities. Specifically, the bill requires the VA to furnish hospital care, medical services, and extended care services via providers under the Veterans Community Care Program to veterans with a service-connected disability rated at 50% or more who elect to receive care or services through a non-VA provider. The bill requires the VA to extend the operating hours of its pharmacies. The VA must enter into contracts with physicians and nurses to work at VA medical facilities during nights and weekends. Finally, the bill authorizes the VA to provide for a best-practices peer review of each VA medical center by a nongovernmental hospital organization to evaluate the efficacy of the care provided at each center. VA medical centers with the longest wait times for appointments or the worst health outcomes shall be given priority for peer review.

Bill Text

• Introduced Introduced in House Current html January 08, 2020

From the bill's own amending language, matched to the official United States Code (current through Public Law 119-124).

Also cites: 38 U.S.C. § 1703

Compared against current U.S. Code AI-generated reading aid — verify against the official bill.

The bill expands eligibility for veterans with service-connected disabilities rated at 50% or higher to receive care through non-Department providers and implements changes to operational hours and peer review processes.

• 38 U.S.C. § 1703

  or → or

  This change clarifies continuation in a list format without altering the original meaning.

• 38 U.S.C. § 1703(d)(1)

  . → ; or

  This change expands the list of conditions under which care can be provided through non-Department providers.

• 38 U.S.C. § 1703(d)(1)

  (F) the covered veteran has a service-connected disability rated at 50 percent or higher and elects to receive care or services through a non-Department provider.

  This addition allows certain veterans with significant disabilities to opt for care from non-Department sources.

• 38 U.S.C. § 1703

  The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall extend the operating hours for each pharmacy of the Department of Veterans Affairs during which the pharmacy offers services comparable to retail pharmacies to include operation on Saturday, Sunday, and Federal holidays; and operation until 8:00 p.m. on weekdays that are not Federal holidays.

  This change extends pharmacy operating hours to better serve veterans.

• 38 U.S.C. § 1703

  The Secretary shall enter into contracts, including through locum tenens arrangements, with physicians and nurses that meet qualifications set forth by the Secretary for purposes of this section under which such physicians and nurses work at medical facilities of the Department during nights and weekends.

  This allows the Department to ensure medical services are available during off-hours.

• 38 U.S.C. § 1703

  The Secretary may provide for the conduct by a nongovernmental hospital organization of a best-practices peer review of each medical center of the Department of Veterans Affairs to evaluate the efficacy of health care delivered at each such medical center.

  This enables independent reviews to improve the quality of care at VA medical centers.

• 38 U.S.C. § 1703

  The Secretary shall give priority for peer review conducted under subsection (a) to the medical centers of the Department with the longest wait times for an appointment or the worst health outcomes, as determined by the Secretary.

  This targets improvements at the most critically performing medical centers.

Action History

1. February 07, 2020

   Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

2. January 08, 2020

   Introduced in House

3. January 08, 2020

   Introduced in House

4. January 08, 2020

   Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

Sponsors

• Richard Hudson · Primary

Subjects