South Texas Veterans Access to Care Act of 2006 - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to determine, and notify Congress, whether the needs of veterans for acute inpatient hospital care in 24 counties comprising Far South Texas shall be met through: (1) a public-private venture to provide such services and long-term care to veterans in an existing facility in Far South Texas; (2) a project for construction of a new full-service, 50-bed hospital with a 125-bed nursing home in Far South Texas; or (3) a sharing agreement with a military treatment facility in Far South Texas. Requires the Secretary to take appropriate action depending on the option selected.
[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5870 Introduced in House (IH)]
109th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 5870
To provide for the health care needs of veterans in far South Texas.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
July 24, 2006
Mr. Ortiz (for himself, Mr. Hinojosa, and Mr. Doggett) introduced the
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans'
Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To provide for the health care needs of veterans in far South Texas.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``South Texas Veterans Access to Care
Act of 2006''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS; DEFINITION.
(a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
(1) The current and future health care needs of veterans
residing in the Far South Texas area are not being fully met by
the Department of Veterans Affairs.
(2) The Department of Veterans Affairs states that, as of
January 1, 2006, the number of veterans in Far South Texas is
approximately 114,000.
(3) In its Capital Asset Realignment for Enhanced Services
study, the Department of Veterans Affairs found that fewer than
three percent of its enrollees in the Valley-Coastal Bend
Market of Veterans Integrated Service Network 17 reside within
its acute hospital access standards.
(4) Travel times for veterans from the market referred to
in paragraph (3) can exceed six hours from their residences to
the nearest Department of Veterans Affairs hospital for acute
inpatient health care.
(5) Even with the significant travel times, veterans from
Far South Texas demonstrate a high demand for health care
services from the Department of Veterans Affairs.
(6) Current deployments involving members of the Texas
National Guard and Reservists from Texas will continue to
inflate projections by the Department of Veterans Affairs of
demand.
(b) Definition.--For purposes of this Act, the term ``Far South
Texas'' means the following counties of the State of Texas: Aransas,
Bee, Brooks, Calhoun, Cameron, Crockett, DeWitt, Dimmit, Duval, Goliad,
Hidalgo, Jackson, Jim Hogg, Jim Wells, Kenedy, Kleberg, Nueces,
Refugio, San Patricio, Starr, Victoria, Webb, Willacy, and Zapata.
SEC. 3. MEDICAL CARE FOR VETERANS IN FAR SOUTH TEXAS.
(a) Determination.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall
determine, and notify Congress pursuant to subsection (b), whether the
needs of veterans in Far South Texas for acute inpatient hospital care
shall be met--
(1) through a project for a public-private venture to
provide inpatient services and long-term care to veterans in an
existing facility in Far South Texas;
(2) through a project for construction of a new full-
service, 50-bed hospital with a 125-bed nursing home in Far
South Texas; or
(3) through a sharing agreement with a military treatment
facility in Far South Texas.
(b) Notification and Prospectus.--Not later than 180 days after the
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to
Congress a report--
(1) identifying which of the three options specified in
subsection (a) has been selected by the Secretary; and
(2) providing, for the option selected, a prospectus that
includes, at a minimum, the matter specified in paragraphs (1)
through (8) of section 8104(b) of title 38, United States Code,
and the project timelines.
SEC. 4. PUBLIC-PRIVATE VENTURE FOR MEDICAL CARE FOR VETERANS IN FAR
SOUTH TEXAS.
(a) Project.--If the option selected by the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs under section 3(a) is the option specified in paragraph (1) of
that section for a project of a public-private venture to provide
inpatient and long-term care to veterans at an existing facility in Far
South Texas, then the Secretary shall, subject to the availability of
appropriations for such purpose, take such steps as necessary to enter
into an agreement with an appropriate private-sector entity to provide
for inpatient and long-term care services for veterans at an existing
facility in one of the counties of Far South Texas. Such an agreement
may include provision for construction of a new wing or other addition
at such facility to provide additional services that will, under the
agreement, be leased by the United States and dedicated to care and
treatment of veterans by the Secretary under title 38, United States
Code.
(b) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated such sums as necessary for a public-private venture
project under this section.
SEC. 5. NEW DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS MEDICAL CENTER, FAR SOUTH
TEXAS.
(a) Project Authorization.--If the option selected by the Secretary
of Veterans Affairs under section 3(a) is the option specified in
paragraph (2) of that section for a project for construction in Far
South Texas of a new full-service, 175-bed facility providing inpatient
and long-term care services. Such facility shall be located in the
county in Far South Texas that the Secretary determines most suitable
to meet the health care needs of veterans in the region.
(b) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to the Construction, Major Projects, account of the
Department of Veterans Affairs, in addition to any other amounts
authorized for that account, the amount of $175,000,000 for the project
authorized by subsection (a).
SEC. 6. SHARED FACILITY WITH DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE, FAR SOUTH TEXAS.
(a) Project Authorization.--If the option selected by the Secretary
of Veterans Affairs under section 3(a) is the option specified in
paragraph (3) of that section for a project of a Department of Veterans
Affairs-Department of Defense shared facility to provide inpatient and
long-term care to veterans at an existing facility in Far South Texas,
then the Secretary shall, subject to the availability of appropriations
for such purpose, take such steps as necessary to enter into an
agreement with an appropriate military treatment facility to provide
for inpatient and long-term care services for veterans at an existing
facility in one of the counties of Far South Texas. Such an agreement
may include provision for construction of a new wing or other addition
at such facility to provide additional services that will, under the
agreement, be leased by the United States and dedicated to care and
treatment of veterans by the Secretary under title 38, United States
Code.
(b) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated such sums as necessary for a Department of Veterans
Affairs-Department of Defense venture project under this section.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
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