Pub. L. 94-581, tit. I, sec. 103

Sec. 103. (a) Section 612 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by— (1) inserting after the first sentence of subsection (a) the following new sentence: “The Administrator may also furnish to any such veteran such home health services as the Administrator finds to he necessary or appropriate for the effective and economical treatment of such disability (including only such improvements and structural alterations the cost of which does not exceed $2,500 (or reimbursement up to such amount) as are necessary to assure the continuation of treatment for such disability or to provide access to the home or to essential lavatory and sanitary facilities.”; (2) striking out “or” at the end of clause (4) of subsection (b); redesignating clause (5) of such subsection as clause (6); and inserting after clause (4) of such subsection the following new clause (5): “(5) which is a non-service-connected condition or disability of a veteran for which treatment was begun while such veteran was receiving hospital care under this chapter and such services and treatment are reasonably necessary to complete such treatment; or”; (3) striking out “may also furnish” in subsection (f) and inserting in lieu thereof a comma and “within the limits of Veterans’ Administration facilities, may furnish”; (4) inserting in clause (1)(A) of subsection (f) “(to the extent that facilities are available)” after “or” the first place it appears; (5) inserting before the semicolon at the end of clause (1) (B) of subsection (f) “(for a period not in excess of twelve months after discharge from in-hospital treatment, except where the Administrator finds that a longer period is required by virtue of the disability being treated)”; (6) striking out “80” and inserting in lieu thereof “50” in clause (2) of subsection (f); (7) inserting at the end of subsection (f) the following new sentence: “The Administrator may also furnish to any such veteran such home health services as the Administrator determines to 90 STAT. 2845be necessary or appropriate for the effective and economical treatment of a disability of a veteran (including only such improvements and structural alterations the cost of which does not exceed $600 (or reimbursement up to such amount) as are necessary to assure the continuation of treatment or provide access to the home or to essential lavatory and sanitary facilities).”; and. (8) inserting at the end thereof the following new subsections: “(i) Not later than ninety days after the effective date of this subsection, the Administrator shall prescribe regulations to ensure that special priority in furnishing medical services under this section and any other outpatient care with funds appropriated for the medical care of veterans shall be accorded in the following order, unless compelling medical reasons require that such care be provided more expeditiously: “(1) To any veteran for a service-connected disability. “(2) To any veteran described in subsection (f)(2) of this section. “(3) To any veteran with a disability rated as service-connected. “(4) To any veteran being furnished medical services under subsection (g) of this section. “(j) In order to assist the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare in carrying out national immunization programs pursuant to other provisions of law, the Administrator may authorize the administration of immunizations to eligible veterans (voluntarily requesting such immunizations) in connection with the provision of care for a disability under this chapter in any Veterans’ Administration health care facility, utilizing vaccine furnished by the Secretary at no cost to the Veterans’ Administration, and for such purpose, notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary is authorized to provide such vaccine to the Veterans’ Administration at no cost and the provisions of section 4116 of this title shall apply to claims alleging negligence or malpractice on the part of Veterans’ Administration personnel granted immunity under such section.”. (b) Not later than one year after the effective date of this section, and annually thereafter, the Administrator shall report to the Congress on the results of the regulations proscribed to carry out the amendment (adding section 612(i) of title 38, United States Code) made by subsection (a) (8) of this section.