To amend title 38, United States Code, to revise the eligibility for outpatient medical services furnished by the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Authorizes the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to increase the eligibility for outpatient medical services to all veterans currently eligible for hospital care. (Currently, the eligibility for outpatient medical services is limited to veterans: (1) for a service-connected disability; or (2) for a disability for a veteran who has a service-connected disability rated at 50 percent or more.)

Eliminates the authority of the Secretary to: (1) furnish home health services in connection with such outpatient care; and (2) contract for the provision of outpatient medical services with facilities that are not Department of Veterans Affairs facilities.

 
HR 1780 IH
101st CONGRESS
1st Session
 H. R. 1780
To amend title 38, United States Code, to revise the eligibility for outpatient
medical services furnished by the Department of Veterans' Affairs.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
April 11, 1989
Mr. JONTZ introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee
on Veterans' Affairs
A BILL
To amend title 38, United States Code, to revise the eligibility for outpatient
medical services furnished by the Department of Veterans' Affairs.
  Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United
  States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. ELIGIBILITY FOR OUTPATIENT MEDICAL SERVICES.
  (a) CONFORMITY WITH ELIGIBLITY FOR INPATIENT CARE- Section 612(a) of title
  38, United States Code, is amended--
  (1) in paragraph (1), by striking out `determines are needed--' and all
  that follows in that paragraph and inserting in lieu thereof `determines
  are needed to any veteran who is eligible for hospital care under section
  610(a)(1) of this title, subject to the same limitations as apply under
  subparagraphs (A) through (I) of that section with respect to eligibility
  for hospital care under that section.';
  (2) by striking out paragraphs (2) and (3);
  (3) by redesignating paragraph (4) as paragraph (2) and in that paragraph
  striking out `paragraph (5)' and inserting in lieu thereof `paragraph
  (3)'; and
  (4) by redesignating paragraph (5) as paragraph (3) and in that paragraph
  striking out `paragraph (4)' and inserting in lieu thereof `paragraph (2)'.
  (b) EFFECTIVE DATE- The amendments made by subsection (a) shall take effect
  on October 1, 1989.