hospital admissions

hospital admissions Sec. 121. (a) Section 321 of the Comprehensive Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism Prevention, Treatment, and Rehabilitation Act of 1970 is amended to read as follows: “admission of alcohol abusers and alcoholics to private and public hospitals “Sec. 321. (a) Alcohol abusers and alcoholics who are suffering from medical conditions shall not be discriminated against in admission or treatment, solely because of their alcohol abuse or alcoholism, by any private or public general hospital which receives support in any form from any program supported in whole or in part by funds appropriated to any Federal department or agency. “(b) (1) The Secretary is authorized to make regulations for the enforcement of the policy of subsection (a) with respect to the admission and treatment of alcohol abusers and alcoholics in hospitals which receive support of any kind from any program administered by the Secretary. Such regulations shall include procedures for determining (after opportunity for a hearing if requested) if a violation of subsection (a) has occurred, notification of failure to comply with such subsection, and opportunity for a violator to. comply with such subsection. If the Secretary determines that a hospital subject to such regulations has violated subsection (a) and such violation continues after an opportunity has been afforded for compliance, the Secretary88 Stat. 131 may suspend or revoke, after opportunity for a hearing, all or part of any support of any kind received by such hospital from any program administered by the Secretary. The Secretary may consult with the officials responsible for the administration of any other Federal program from which such hospital receives support of any kind, with respect to the suspension or revocation of such other Federal support for such hospital. “(2) The Administrator of Veterans’ Affairs, through the Chief Medical Director, shall, to the maximum feasible extent consistent with their responsibilities under title 38, United States Code, prescribe regulations making applicable the regulations prescribed by the Secretary under paragraph (1) of this subsection to the provision of hospital care, nursing home care, domiciliary care, and medical services under such title 38 to veterans suffering from alcohol abuse or alcoholism. In prescribing and implementing regulations pursuant to this paragraph, the Administrator shall, from time to time, consult with the Secretary in order to achieve the maximum possible coordination of the regulations, and the implementation thereof, which they each prescribe.”. (b) The Administrator of Veterans’ Affairs shall submit to the appropriate committees of the House of Representatives and the Senate a full report (1) on the regulations (including guidelines, policies, and procedures thereunder) he has prescribed pursuant to section 321(b) (2) of the Comprehensive Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism Prevention, Treatment, and Rehabilitation Act of 1970, (2) explaining the bases for any inconsistency between such regulations and regulations of the Secretary under section 321(b) (1) of such Act, (3) on the extent, substance, and results of his consultations with the Secretary respecting the prescribing and implementation of the Administrator’s regulations, and (4) containing such recommendations for legislation and administrative actions as he determines are necessary and desirable. The Administrator shall submit such report not later than sixty days after the effective date of the regulations prescribed by the Secretary under such section 321(b)(1) , and shall timely publish such report in the Federal Register.