PILOT PROGRAM OF ENHANCED CONTRACT CARE AUTHORITY FOR HEALTH CARE NEEDS OF VETERANS IN HIGHLY RURAL AREAS.

SEC. 403. PILOT PROGRAM OF ENHANCED CONTRACT CARE AUTHORITY FOR HEALTH CARE NEEDS OF VETERANS IN HIGHLY RURAL AREAS.(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) Termination.—A veteran may receive health services under the pilot program only during the three-year period beginning on the date of the commencement of the pilot program under paragraph (2).(4) Program locations.—The pilot program shall be carried out within areas selected by the Secretary for the purposes of the pilot program in at least five Veterans Integrated Service Networks (VISNs). Of the Veterans Integrated Service Networks so selected—(A) not less than four such networks shall include at least three highly rural counties, as determined by the Secretary upon consideration of the most recent decennial census;(B) not less than one such network, not including a network selected under subparagraph (A), shall include only one highly rural county, as determined by the Secretary upon consideration of the most recent decennial census;(C) all such networks shall include area within the borders of at least four States; and(D) no such networks shall be participants in the Healthcare Effectiveness through Resource Optimization pilot program of the Department of Veterans Affairs.(b) Covered Veterans.—122 STAT. 4125(1) In general.—For purposes of the pilot program under this section, a covered veteran is any highly rural veteran who is—(A) enrolled in the system of patient enrollment established under section 1705(a) of title 38, United States Code, as of the date of the commencement of the pilot program under subsection (a)(2); or(B) eligible for health care under section 1710(e)(3)(C) of title 38, United States Code.(2) Highly rural veterans.—For purposes of this subsection, a highly rural veteran is any veteran who—(A) resides in a location that is—(i) more than 60 miles driving distance from the nearest Department health care facility providing primary care services, if the veteran is seeking such services;(ii) more than 120 miles driving distance from the nearest Department health care facility providing acute hospital care, if the veteran is seeking such care; or(iii) more than 240 miles driving distance from the nearest Department health care facility providing tertiary care, if the veteran is seeking such care; or(B) in the case of a veteran who resides in a location less than the distance specified in clause (i), (ii), or (iii) of subparagraph (A), as applicable, experiences such hardship or other difficulties in travel to the nearest appropriate Department health care facility that such travel is not in the best interest of the veteran, as determined by the Secretary pursuant to regulations prescribed for purposes of this subsection.(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-122 STAT. 4126 Department health care providers providing health services under the pilot program.(h) 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;(C) making the pilot program permanent.