EVALUATION AND TREATMENT OF VETERANS AND CIVILIANS AT MILITARY TREATMENT FACILITIES.

SEC. 717. [10 U.S.C. 1071 note] EVALUATION AND TREATMENT OF VETERANS AND CIVILIANS AT MILITARY TREATMENT FACILITIES. (a) In General.—The Secretary of Defense shall authorize a veteran (in consultation with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs) or civilian to be evaluated and treated at a military treatment facility if the Secretary of Defense determines that— (1) the evaluation and treatment of the individual is necessary to attain the relevant mix and volume of medical casework required to maintain medical readiness skills and competencies of health care providers at the facility; (2) the health care providers at the facility have the competencies, skills, and abilities required to treat the individual; and (3) the facility has available space, equipment, and materials to treat the individual. (b) Priority of Covered Beneficiaries.— (1) In general.—Except as provided in paragraph (2), the evaluation and treatment of covered beneficiaries at military treatment facilities shall be prioritized ahead of the evaluation and treatment of veterans and civilians at such facilities under subsection (a). (2) Waiver.—The Secretary may waive the requirement under paragraph (1) in order to provide timely evaluation and treatment for individuals who are— (A) severely wounded or injured by acts of terror that occur in the United States; or (B) residents of the United States who are severely wounded or injured by acts of terror outside the United States. (c) Reimbursement for Treatment.— (1) Civilians.—A military treatment facility that evaluates or treats an individual (other than an individual described in paragraph (2)) under subsection (a) shall bill the individual and accept reimbursement from the individual or a third-party payer (as that term is defined in section 1095(h) of title 10, United States Code) on behalf of such individual for the costs of any health care services provided to the individual under such subsection. (2) Veterans.—The Secretary of Defense shall enter into a memorandum of agreement with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs under which the Secretary of Veterans Affairs will pay a military treatment facility using a prospective payment methodology (including interagency transfers of funds or obligational authority and similar transactions) for the costs of any health care services provided at the facility under subsection (a) to individuals eligible for such health care services from the Department of Veterans Affairs. (3) Use of amounts.—The Secretary of Defense shall make available to a military treatment facility any amounts collected by such facility under paragraph (1) or (2) for health care services provided to an individual under subsection (a). (d) Covered Beneficiary Defined.—In this section, the term “covered beneficiary” has the meaning given that term in section 1072 of title 10, United States Code.