AUTHORITY TO PAY FOR AUTHORIZED CARE NOT SUBJECT TO AN AGREEMENT.

SEC. 112. AUTHORITY TO PAY FOR AUTHORIZED CARE NOT SUBJECT TO AN AGREEMENT. (a) In General.—Subchapter IV of chapter 81 is amended by adding at the end the following new section: “SEC. 8159. [38 U.S.C. 8159] Authority to pay for services authorized but not subject to an agreement “(a) In General.—If, in the course of furnishing hospital care, a medical service, or an extended care service authorized by the Secretary and pursuant to a contract, agreement, or other arrangement with the Secretary, a provider who is not a party to the contract, agreement, or other arrangement furnishes hospital care, a medical service, or an extended care service that the Secretary considers necessary, the Secretary may compensate the provider for the cost of such care or service. “(b) New Contracts and Agreements.—The Secretary shall take reasonable efforts to enter into a contract, agreement, or other arrangement with a provider described in subsection (a) to ensure that future care and services authorized by the Secretary and furnished by the provider are subject to such a contract, agreement, or other arrangement.” . (b) [38 U.S.C. 8101] Clerical Amendment.—The table of sections at the beginning of such chapteris amended by inserting after the item relating to section 8158 the following new item: “8159. Authority to pay for services authorized but not subject to an agreement.” .