To provide for demonstration projects to test the feasibility of broader use of arrangements between the Department of Veterans Affairs and other Federal health-care providers for the sharing of health-care resources, and for other purposes.

Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct ten demonstration projects to examine the feasibility of broader use of arrangements for the sharing of health-care resources with other Federal health-care providers. Requires the Secretary to enter into agreements for such demonstration projects with the Secretaries of Defense and Health and Human Services with respect to facilities, providers, and beneficiaries of health care.

Requires each demonstration project to be carried out through a sharing agreement between the Secretary and one of the other named Secretaries with respect to care and services provided by a particular Department of Veterans Affairs medical facility. Requires medical centers selected for the demonstration projects to be located in rural and urban areas in different regions of the country. Provides for the reciprocal provision of health-care services by medical centers participating in the project, as well as for reciprocal reimbursement for services provided.

Directs the Secretary to evaluate the demonstration projects on an ongoing basis and to submit two annual reports on such evaluation to the Congress.

Authorizes appropriations.

 
HR 2824 IH
102d CONGRESS
1st Session
 H. R. 2824
To provide for demonstration projects to test the feasibility of broader
use of arrangements between the Department of Veterans Affairs and other
Federal health-care providers for the sharing of health-care resources,
and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
June 27, 1991
Mr. ROWLAND (for himself and Mr. PENNY) introduced the following bill; which
was referred jointly to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs, Armed Services,
Energy and Commerce, and Ways and Means
A BILL
To provide for demonstration projects to test the feasibility of broader
use of arrangements between the Department of Veterans Affairs and other
Federal health-care providers for the sharing of health-care resources,
and for other purposes.
  Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United
  States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS.
  (a) IN GENERAL- The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall conduct 10
  demonstration projects to examine the feasibility of broader use of
  arrangements for the sharing of health-care resources with other Federal
  health-care providers. The Secretary shall begin such demonstration projects
  not later than 6 months after the date of the enactment of this Act.
  (b) OTHER PARTICIPANTS- The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall enter into
  agreements for demonstration projects under this Act with--
  (1) the Secretary of Defense, with respect to health-care facilities and
  beneficiaries of the Department of Defense;
  (2) the Secretary of Health and Human Services, with respect to health-care
  facilities and beneficiaries of the Indian Health Service; and
  (3) the Secretary of Health and Human Services, with respect to providers
  and beneficiaries under a State plan for medical assistance under title
  XVIII of the Social Security Act.
  (c) SHARING AGREEMENTS- Each demonstration project under this Act shall be
  carried out through a sharing agreement entered into by the Secretary of
  Veterans Affairs and one of the Secretaries named in subsection (b). Each
  such agreement shall be entered into with respect to care and services
  provided by a particular Department of Veterans Affairs medical center. In
  selecting medical centers for participation in sharing agreements under
  this Act, the Secretary shall ensure that the medical centers selected
  are located in a variety of types of areas, including both rural and urban
  areas and different regions of the Nation.
  (d) RECIPROCAL SERVICES- Under such an agreement--
  (1) veterans who are eligible to receive hospital care and medical services
  at the medical center concerned shall be provided hospital care and medical
  services by the other participant to the agreement subject to the same
  terms and conditions as apply to a health-care beneficiary under programs
  administered by that participant; and
  (2) any health-care beneficiary under programs administered by that
  participant shall be provided hospital care and medical services at the
  Department of Veterans Affairs medical facility subject to the same terms
  and conditions as apply to a veteran with a non-service-connected disability.
  (e) REIMBURSEMENT- Agreements entered into under this Act shall provide for
  reciprocal reimbursement based on a charge which covers the cost of services
  rendered and supplies used and which includes normal depreciation and
  amortization of costs of equipment. Any amount received as a reimbursement
  under this section shall be credited to the appropriation or fund, and to
  the facility, which sustained the costs being reimbursed.
  (f) PRESERVATION OF EXISTING SERVICES- The provision of care and services
  to other beneficiaries by a providing department shall not adversely affect
  the range of services, quality of care, and established priorities for
  care for primary beneficiaries of that department.
  (g) EVALUATION AND REPORTS- (1) The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall
  evaluate demonstration projects under this Act on an ongoing basis. Not later
  than one year after the implementation of the demonstration projects begins,
  the Secretary shall submit to the Congress a report on the demonstration
  projects and the Secretary's evaluation of those projects. The report shall
  include an evaluation of the costs and benefits of each such demonstration
  project in the case of each department participating in the project and
  an evaluation of the effect of the project on the delivery of health care
  to primary beneficiaries of the department. The Secretary shall submit a
  second report to the Congress one year after the first report which shall
  include a further such evaluation of the demonstration projects.
  (2) There is hereby authorized to be appropriated for fiscal year 1992
  the sum of $500,000 to carry out the evaluation required by paragraph (1).