[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 3182 Reported in Senate (RS)]
<DOC>
Calendar No. 415
116th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 3182
To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out the Women's
Health Transition Training pilot program through at least fiscal year
2020, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
January 13, 2020
Mr. Sullivan (for himself and Mr. Blumenthal) introduced the following
bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans'
Affairs
February 5, 2020
Reported by Mr. Moran, with an amendment and an amendment to the title
[Insert the part printed in italic]
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out the Women's
Health Transition Training pilot program through at least fiscal year
2020, 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 ``Helping Expand and Launch
Transitional Health for Women Veterans Act'' or ``HEALTH Act''.
SEC. 2. CONTINUATION OF WOMEN'S HEALTH TRANSITION TRAINING PILOT
PROGRAM OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.
(a) Duration.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall carry out
the Women's Health Transition Training pilot program of the Department
of Veterans Affairs (in this section referred to as the ``pilot
program'') until at least September 30, 2020.
(b) Report.--Not later than September 30, 2020, the Secretary of
Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall jointly submit to
the appropriate congressional committees a report on the pilot program
that includes the following:
(1) The number of women members of the Armed Forces,
disaggregated by military department (with respect to the
Department of the Navy, disaggregated by the Navy and Marine
Corps), who participated in the pilot program.
(2) The number of courses held under the pilot program.
(3) The locations at which such courses were held, the
number of seats available for such courses, and the number of
participants at each such location.
(4) With respect to the number of members of the Armed
Forces who participated in the pilot program as specified under
paragraph (1)--
(A) the number who enrolled in the health care
system of the Department of Veterans Affairs under
section 1705(a) of title 38, United States Code; and
(B) the number who attended at least one health
care appointment at a medical facility of the
Department of Veterans Affairs.
(5) Data relating to--
(A) satisfaction with courses held under the pilot
program;
(B) improved awareness of health care services
administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; and
(C) any other available statistics regarding the
pilot program.
(6) A discussion of regulatory, legal, or resource barriers
to--
(A) making the pilot program permanent to enable
access to services provided under the pilot program by
a greater number of women members of the Armed Forces
at locations throughout the United States;
(B) offering the pilot program online for women
members of the Armed Forces who are unable to attend
courses held under the pilot program in person; and
(C) the feasability of automatically enrolling
pilot program participants in the health care system of
the Department of Veterans Affairs under section
1705(a) of title 38, United States Code.
(c) Appropriate Congressional Committees Defined.--In this section,
the term ``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
(1) the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on
Veterans' Affairs of the Senate; and
(2) the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on
Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives.
SEC. 3. AUTHORITY FOR SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS TO FURNISH
MEDICALLY NECESSARY TRANSPORTATION FOR NEWBORN CHILDREN
OF CERTAIN WOMEN VETERANS.
(a) In General.--Section 1786 of title 38, United States Code, is
amended--
(1) in subsection (a)--
(A) in the matter before paragraph (1)--
(i) by inserting ``and transportation
necessary to receive such services'' after
``described in subsection (b)''; and
(ii) by inserting ``, except as provided in
subsection (e),'' after ``seven days'';
(B) in paragraph (1), by striking ``or'';
(C) in paragraph (2), by striking the period at the
end and inserting ``; or''; and
(D) by adding at the end the following new
paragraph:
``(3) another location, including a health care facility,
if the veteran delivers the child before arriving at a facility
described in paragraph (1) or (2).'';
(2) in subsection (b), by inserting before the period at
the end the following: ``, including necessary health care
services provided by a facility other than the facility where
the newborn child was delivered (including a specialty
pediatric hospital) that accepts transfer of the newborn child
and responsibility for treatment of the newborn child''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following new subsections:
``(c) Transportation.--(1) Transportation furnished under
subsection (a) to, from, or between care settings to meet the needs of
a newborn child includes costs for either or both the newborn child and
parents.
``(2) Transportation furnished under subsection (a) includes
transportation by ambulance, including air ambulance, or other
appropriate medically staffed modes of transportation--
``(A) to another health care facility (including a
specialty pediatric hospital) that accepts transfer of the
newborn child or otherwise provides post-delivery care services
when the treating facility is not capable of furnishing the
care or services required; or
``(B) to a health care facility in a medical emergency of
such nature that a prudent layperson reasonably expects that
delay in seeking immediate medical attention would be hazardous
to life or health.
``(3) Amounts paid by the Department for transportation under this
section shall be derived from the Medical Services appropriations
account of the Department.
``(d) Reimbursement or Payment for Health Care Services or
Transportation.--(1) Pursuant to regulations the Secretary shall
prescribe to establish rates of reimbursement and any limitations
thereto under this section, the Secretary shall directly reimburse a
covered entity for health care services or transportation services
provided under this section, unless the cost of the services or
transportation is covered by an established agreement or contract. If
such an agreement or contract exists, its negotiated payment terms
shall apply.
``(2)(A) Reimbursement or payment by the Secretary under this
section on behalf of an individual to a covered entity shall, unless
rejected and refunded by the covered entity within 30 days of receipt,
extinguish any liability on the part of the individual for the health
care services or transportation covered by such payment.
``(B) Neither the absence of a contract or agreement between the
Secretary and a covered entity nor any provision of a contract,
agreement, or assignment to the contrary shall operate to modify,
limit, or negate the requirements of subparagraph (A).
``(3) In this subsection, the term `covered entity' means any
individual, transportation carrier, organization, or other entity that
furnished or paid for health care services or transportation under this
section.
``(e) Exception.--Pursuant to such regulations as the Secretary
shall prescribe to carry out this section, the Secretary may furnish
more than seven days of health care services described in subsection
(b), and transportation necessary to receive such services, to a
newborn child based on medical necessity if the child is in need of
additional care, including a case in which the newborn child has been
discharged or released from a hospital and requires readmittance to
ensure the health and welfare of the newborn child.''.
(b) Treatment of Certain Expenses Already Incurred.--
(1) In general.--Pursuant to such regulations as the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall prescribe, with respect to
transportation furnished in order for a newborn child of a
veteran to receive health care services under section 1786 of
title 38, United States Code, during the period specified in
paragraph (2), the Secretary may--
(A) waive a debt owed by the veteran to the
Department of Veterans Affairs or reimburse expenses
already paid by the veteran to the Department for such
transportation; or
(B) reimburse the veteran for costs billed by a
covered entity for such transportation regardless of
whether the veteran has already made such payment.
(2) Period specified.--The period specified in this
paragraph is the period beginning on May 5, 2010, and ending on
the date of the enactment of this Act.
(3) Covered entity defined.--In this subsection, the term
``covered entity'' has the meaning given that term in section
1786(d)(3) of title 38, United States Code, as amended by
subsection (a).
Amend the title so as to read: ``A bill to direct the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out the Women's Health
Transition Training pilot program through at least fiscal year
2020, to authorize the Secretary to furnish medically necessary
transportation for newborn children of certain women veterans,
and for other purposes.''.
Calendar No. 415
116th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 3182
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out the Women's
Health Transition Training pilot program through at least fiscal year
2020, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
February 5, 2020
Reported with an amendment and an amendment to the title