2013 US Code
Title 38 - Veterans’ Benefits
Part II - GENERAL BENEFITS (§§ 1101 - 2414)
Chapter 17 - HOSPITAL, NURSING HOME, DOMICILIARY, AND MEDICAL CARE (§§ 1701 - 1787)
Subchapter I - GENERAL (§§ 1701 - 1709A)
Section 1703 - Contracts for hospital care and medical services in non-Department facilities
Publication Title | United States Code, 2012 Edition, Supplement 1, Title 38 - VETERANS' BENEFITS |
Category | Bills and Statutes |
Collection | United States Code |
SuDoc Class Number | Y 1.2/5: |
Contained Within | Title 38 - VETERANS' BENEFITS PART II - GENERAL BENEFITS CHAPTER 17 - HOSPITAL, NURSING HOME, DOMICILIARY, AND MEDICAL CARE SUBCHAPTER I - GENERAL Sec. 1703 - Contracts for hospital care and medical services in non-Department facilities |
Contains | section 1703 |
Date | 2013 |
Laws in Effect as of Date | January 16, 2014 |
Positive Law | Yes |
Disposition | standard |
Source Credit | Added Pub. L. 99-272, title XIX, §19012(b)(1), Apr. 7, 1986, 100 Stat. 380, §603; amended Pub. L. 99-166, title I, §102(b)(1), Dec. 3, 1985, 99 Stat. 943; Pub. L. 99-272, title XIX, §19012(c)(5)(A), Apr. 7, 1986, 100 Stat. 382; Pub. L. 100-322, title I, §§101(e)(3), 104, 112(a), May 20, 1988, 102 Stat. 492, 493, 499; Pub. L. 100-687, div. B, title XV, §1503(a)(1), Nov. 18, 1988, 102 Stat. 4133; Pub. L. 102-54, §14(b)(9), June 13, 1991, 105 Stat. 283; renumbered §1703 and amended Pub. L. 102-83, §§4(a)(1), (3)-(5), (b)(1), (2)(E), 5(a), (c)(1), Aug. 6, 1991, 105 Stat. 403-406; Pub. L. 102-585, title V, §501, Nov. 4, 1992, 106 Stat. 4955; Pub. L. 104-262, title I, §104(b), Oct. 9, 1996, 110 Stat. 3184; Pub. L. 108-422, title VI, §601, Nov. 30, 2004, 118 Stat. 2396; Pub. L. 109-13, div. A, title VI, §6080, May 11, 2005, 119 Stat. 302; Pub. L. 110-387, title VIII, §802, Oct. 10, 2008, 122 Stat. 4141; Pub. L. 112-37, §10(a), Oct. 5, 2011, 125 Stat. 396. |
Statutes at Large References | 99 Stat. 943 100 Stat. 380, 382 102 Stat. 501, 492, 4133, 4134 105 Stat. 283, 403-406 106 Stat. 4955 110 Stat. 3184 118 Stat. 2396 119 Stat. 302 122 Stat. 4141, 4124 124 Stat. 1149, 1155 125 Stat. 396 |
Public Law References | Public Law 99-166, Public Law 99-272, Public Law 100-322, Public Law 100-687, Public Law 102-54, Public Law 102-83, Public Law 102-585, Public Law 104-262, Public Law 108-422, Public Law 109-13, Public Law 110-387, Public Law 111-163, Public Law 112-37 |
Download PDF
(a) When Department facilities are not capable of furnishing economical hospital care or medical services because of geographical inaccessibility or are not capable of furnishing the care or services required, the Secretary, as authorized in section 1710 of this title, may contract with non-Department facilities in order to furnish any of the following:
(1) Hospital care or medical services to a veteran for the treatment of—
(A) a service-connected disability;
(B) a disability for which a veteran was discharged or released from the active military, naval, or air service; or
(C) a disability of a veteran who has a total disability permanent in nature from a service-connected disability.
(2) Medical services for the treatment of any disability of—
(A) a veteran described in section 1710(a)(1)(B) of this title;
(B) a veteran who (i) has been furnished hospital care, nursing home care, domiciliary care, or medical services, and (ii) requires medical services to complete treatment incident to such care or services; or
(C) a veteran described in section 1710(a)(2)(E) of this title, or a veteran who is in receipt of increased pension, or additional compensation or allowances based on the need of regular aid and attendance or by reason of being permanently housebound (or who, but for the receipt of retired pay, would be in receipt of such pension, compensation, or allowance), if the Secretary has determined, based on an examination by a physician employed by the Department (or, in areas where no such physician is available, by a physician carrying out such function under a contract or fee arrangement), that the medical condition of such veteran precludes appropriate treatment in Department facilities.
(3) Hospital care or medical services for the treatment of medical emergencies which pose a serious threat to the life or health of a veteran receiving medical services in a Department facility or nursing home care under section 1720 of this title until such time following the furnishing of care in the non-Department facility as the veteran can be safely transferred to a Department facility.
(4) Hospital care for women veterans.
(5) Hospital care, or medical services that will obviate the need for hospital admission, for veterans in a State (other than the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico) not contiguous to the contiguous States, except that the annually determined hospital patient load and incidence of the furnishing of medical services to veterans hospitalized or treated at the expense of the Department in Government and non-Department facilities in each such noncontiguous State shall be consistent with the patient load or incidence of the furnishing of medical services for veterans hospitalized or treated by the Department within the 48 contiguous States and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
(6) Diagnostic services necessary for determination of eligibility for, or of the appropriate course of treatment in connection with, furnishing medical services at independent Department out-patient clinics to obviate the need for hospital admission.
(7) Outpatient dental services and treatment, and related dental appliances, for a veteran described in section 1712(a)(1)(F) of this title.
(8) Diagnostic services (on an inpatient or outpatient basis) for observation or examination of a person to determine eligibility for a benefit or service under laws administered by the Secretary.
(b) In the case of any veteran for whom the Secretary contracts to furnish care or services in a non-Department facility pursuant to a provision of subsection (a) of this section, the Secretary shall periodically review the necessity for continuing such contractual arrangement pursuant to such provision.
(c) The Secretary shall include in the budget documents which the Secretary submits to Congress for any fiscal year a detailed report on the furnishing of contract care and services during the most recently completed fiscal year under this section, sections 1712A, 1720, 1720A, 1724, and 1732 of this title, and section 115 of the Veterans' Benefits and Services Act of 1988 (Public Law 100–322; 102 Stat. 501).
(d)(1) The Secretary shall conduct a program of recovery audits for fee basis contracts and other medical services contracts for the care of veterans under this section, and for beneficiaries under sections 1781, 1782, and 1783 of this title, with respect to overpayments resulting from processing or billing errors or fraudulent charges in payments for non-Department care and services. The program shall be conducted by contract.
(2) Amounts collected, by setoff or otherwise, as the result of an audit under the program conducted under this subsection shall be available, without fiscal year limitation, for the purposes for which funds are currently available to the Secretary for medical care and for payment to a contractor of a percentage of the amount collected as a result of an audit carried out by the contractor.
(3) The Secretary shall allocate all amounts collected under this subsection with respect to a designated geographic service area of the Veterans Health Administration, net of payments to the contractor, to that region.
(4) The authority of the Secretary under this subsection terminates on September 30, 2020.
(Added Pub. L. 99–272, title XIX, §19012(b)(1), Apr. 7, 1986, 100 Stat. 380, §603; amended Pub. L. 99–166, title I, §102(b)(1), Dec. 3, 1985, 99 Stat. 943; Pub. L. 99–272, title XIX, §19012(c)(5)(A), Apr. 7, 1986, 100 Stat. 382; Pub. L. 100–322, title I, §§101(e)(3), 104, 112(a), May 20, 1988, 102 Stat. 492, 493, 499; Pub. L. 100–687, div. B, title XV, §1503(a)(1), Nov. 18, 1988, 102 Stat. 4133; Pub. L. 102–54, §14(b)(9), June 13, 1991, 105 Stat. 283; renumbered §1703 and amended Pub. L. 102–83, §§4(a)(1), (3)–(5), (b)(1), (2)(E), 5(a), (c)(1), Aug. 6, 1991, 105 Stat. 403–406; Pub. L. 102–585, title V, §501, Nov. 4, 1992, 106 Stat. 4955; Pub. L. 104–262, title I, §104(b), Oct. 9, 1996, 110 Stat. 3184; Pub. L. 108–422, title VI, §601, Nov. 30, 2004, 118 Stat. 2396; Pub. L. 109–13, div. A, title VI, §6080, May 11, 2005, 119 Stat. 302; Pub. L. 110–387, title VIII, §802, Oct. 10, 2008, 122 Stat. 4141; Pub. L. 112–37, §10(a), Oct. 5, 2011, 125 Stat. 396.)
REFERENCES IN TEXTSection 115 of the Veterans' Benefits and Services Act of 1988, referred to in subsec. (c), is set out as a note under section 1712 of this title.
AMENDMENTS2011—Subsec. (d)(4). Pub. L. 112–37 substituted "September 30, 2020" for "September 30, 2013".
2008—Subsec. (d)(4). Pub. L. 110–387 substituted "September 30, 2013" for "September 30, 2008".
2005—Subsec. (d)(2). Pub. L. 109–13 substituted "shall be available, without fiscal year limitation, for the purposes" for "shall be available for the purposes".
2004—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 108–422 added subsec. (d).
1996—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 104–262, §104(b)(1), struck out "or 1712" after ", as authorized in section 1710" in introductory provisions.
Subsec. (a)(2)(A). Pub. L. 104–262, §104(b)(2)(A), substituted "1710(a)(1)(B)" for "1712(a)(1)(B)".
Subsec. (a)(2)(B). Pub. L. 104–262, §104(b)(2)(B), added subpar. (B) and struck out former subpar. (B) which read as follows: "a veteran described in paragraph (2), (3), or (4) of section 1712(a) of this title, for a purpose described in section 1712(a)(5)(B) of this title;".
Subsec. (a)(2)(C). Pub. L. 104–262, §104(b)(2)(C), substituted "section 1710(a)(2)(E) of this title, or a veteran who is in receipt of increased pension, or additional compensation or allowances based on the need of regular aid and attendance or by reason of being permanently housebound (or who, but for the receipt of retired pay, would be in receipt of such pension, compensation, or allowance)," for "section 1712(a)(3) (other than a veteran who is a former prisoner of war) of this title".
Subsec. (a)(7). Pub. L. 104–262, §104(b)(3), substituted "1712(a)(1)(F)" for "1712(b)(1)(F)".
1992—Subsec. (a)(1)(C). Pub. L. 102–585 added subpar. (C).
1991—Pub. L. 102–83, §5(a), renumbered section 603 of this title as this section.
Pub. L. 102–83, §4(a)(5), substituted "non-Department" for "non-Veterans' Administration" in section catchline.
Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 102–83, §5(c)(1), substituted "1710 or 1712" for "610 or 612" in introductory provisions, "1712(a)(1)(B)" for "612(a)(1)(B)" in par. (2)(A), "1712(a)" for "612(a)" and "1712(a)(5)(B)" for "612(a)(5)(B)" in par. (2)(B), "1712(a)(3)" for "612(a)(3)" in par. (2)(C), "1720" for "620" in par. (3), and "1712(b)(1)(F)" for "612(b)(1)(F)" in par. (7).
Pub. L. 102–83, §4(b)(1), (2)(E), substituted "Secretary" for "Administrator" in introductory provisions and in par. (2)(C).
Pub. L. 102–83, §4(a)(5), substituted "non-Department" for "non-Veterans' Administration" in introductory provisions and in pars. (3) and (5).
Pub. L. 102–83, §4(a)(3), (4), substituted "Department" for "Veterans' Administration" wherever appearing in introductory provisions and pars. (2), (3), (5), and (6).
Subsec. (a)(2)(B). Pub. L. 102–54, §14(b)(9)(A), struck out "section" before "paragraph".
Subsec. (a)(7). Pub. L. 102–54, §14(b)(9)(B), substituted "section 612(b)(1)(F)" for "section 612(b)(1)(G)".
Subsec. (a)(8). Pub. L. 102–83, §4(a)(1), substituted "administered by the Secretary" for "administered by the Veterans' Administration".
Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 102–83, §4(b)(1), (2)(E), substituted "Secretary" for "Administrator" in two places.
Pub. L. 102–83, §4(a)(5), substituted "non-Department" for "non-Veterans' Administration".
Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 102–83, §5(c)(1), substituted "1712A, 1720, 1720A, 1724, and 1732" for "612A, 620, 620A, 624, and 632".
Pub. L. 102–83, §4(b)(1), (2)(E), substituted "Secretary" for "Administrator" in two places.
Pub. L. 102–54, §14(b)(9)(C), inserted before period at end "(Public Law 100–322; 102 Stat. 501)".
1988—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 100–322, §104(b)(1), substituted "furnish any of the following:" for "furnish—".
Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 100–322, §104(b)(2), (3), substituted "Hospital" for "hospital" and the period for semicolon at end.
Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 100–322, §104(b)(2), (3), substituted "Medical" for "medical" and the period for semicolon at end.
Subsec. (a)(2)(B). Pub. L. 100–687 substituted "paragraph (2), (3), or (4) of section 612(a)" for "612(a)(4)", and "612(a)(5)(B)" for "612(a)(5)".
Pub. L. 100–322, §101(e)(3)(A), substituted "section 612(a)(4) of this title, for a purpose described in section 612(a)(5) of this title" for "section 612(f)(1)(A)(ii) of this title".
Subsec. (a)(2)(C). Pub. L. 100–322, §101(e)(3)(B), substituted "section 612(a)(3) (other than a veteran who is a former prisoner of war)" for "section 612(g)".
Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 100–322, §104(a)(1), (b)(2), (3), substituted "Hospital" for "hospital", inserted "or nursing home care under section 620 of this title", and substituted the period for semicolon at end.
Subsec. (a)(4), (5). Pub. L. 100–322, §104(b)(2), (3), substituted "Hospital" for "hospital" and the period for semicolon at end.
Subsec. (a)(6). Pub. L. 100–322, §104(b)(2), (4), substituted "Diagnostic" for "diagnostic" and the period for "; or".
Subsec. (a)(7). Pub. L. 100–322, §104(b)(2), substituted "Outpatient" for "outpatient".
Subsec. (a)(8). Pub. L. 100–322, §104(a)(2), added par. (8).
Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 100–322, §112(a), added subsec. (c).
1986—Subsec. (a)(5). Pub. L. 99–272, §19012(c)(5)(A), made conforming amendment to Pub. L. 99–166, §102(b)(1). See 1985 Amendment note below.
1985—Subsec. (a)(5). Pub. L. 99–166, §102(b)(1), as amended by Pub. L. 99–272, §19012(c)(5)(A), inserted "(other than the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico)" after "in a State" and substituted "contiguous States and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico" for "contiguous States, but the authority of the Administrator under this paragraph with respect to the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico shall expire on September 30, 1988, and until such date the Administrator may, if necessary to prevent hardship, waive the applicability to the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico of the restrictions in this paragraph with respect to hospital patient loads and the incidence of the furnishing of medical services".
EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1988 AMENDMENTPub. L. 100–687, div. B, title XV, §1503(b), Nov. 18, 1988, 102 Stat. 4134, provided that: "The amendments made by subsection (a)(1) [amending this section] shall apply with respect to the furnishing of medical services by contract to veterans who apply to the Veterans' Administration for medical services after June 30, 1988."
Pub. L. 100–322, title I, §101(i), May 20, 1988, 102 Stat. 492, provided that: "The amendments made by this section [amending this section and sections 612 and 617 [now 1712 and 1717] of this title] shall apply with respect to the furnishing of medical services to veterans who apply for such services after June 30, 1988."
EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1985 AMENDMENTPub. L. 99–166, title I, §102(b)(1), Dec. 3, 1985, 99 Stat. 943, as amended by Pub. L. 99–272, title XIX, §19012(c)(5)(A), Apr. 7, 1986, 100 Stat. 382, provided that the amendment made by that section is effective Oct. 1, 1988.
DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS ON ALTERNATIVES FOR EXPANDING CARE FOR VETERANS IN RURAL AREASPub. L. 111–163, title III, §303, May 5, 2010, 124 Stat. 1149, provided that:
"(a)
"(1) Establishing a partnership between the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services of the Department of Health and Human Services to coordinate care for veterans in rural areas at critical access hospitals (as designated or certified under section 1820 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395i–4)).
"(2) Establishing a partnership between the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Health and Human Services to coordinate care for veterans in rural areas at community health centers.
"(3) Expanding coordination between the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Indian Health Service to expand care for Indian veterans.
"(b)
"(c)
"(1) the Committee on Veterans' Affairs and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate; and
"(2) the Committee on Veterans' Affairs and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives.
"(d)
Pub. L. 110–387, title IV, §403, Oct. 10, 2008, 122 Stat. 4124, as amended by Pub. L. 111–163, title III, §308, May 5, 2010, 124 Stat. 1155, provided that:
"(a)
"(1)
"(2)
"(3)
"(4)
"(A) not less than four such networks shall include at least three highly rural counties, as determined by the Secretary upon consideration of the most recent decennial census;
"(B) not less than one such network, not including a network selected under subparagraph (A), shall include only one highly rural county, as determined by the Secretary upon consideration of the most recent decennial census;
"(C) all such networks shall include area within the borders of at least four States; and
"(D) no such networks shall be participants in the Healthcare Effectiveness through Resource Optimization pilot program of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
"(b)
"(1) is—
"(A) enrolled in the system of patient enrollment established under section 1705(a) of title 38, United States Code, as of the date of the commencement of the pilot program under subsection (a)(2); or
"(B) eligible for health care under section 1710(e)(3) of such title; and
"(2) resides in a location that is—
"(A) more than 60 minutes driving distance from the nearest Department health care facility providing primary care services, if the veteran is seeking such services;
"(B) more than 120 minutes driving distance from the nearest Department health care facility providing acute hospital care, if the veteran is seeking such care; or
"(C) more than 240 minutes driving distance from the nearest Department health care facility providing tertiary care, if the veteran is seeking such care.
"(c)
"(d)
"(e)
"(f)
"(g)
"(h)
"(1) the assessment of the Secretary of the pilot program during the preceding year, including its cost, volume, quality, patient satisfaction, benefit to veterans, and such other findings and conclusions with respect to pilot program as the Secretary considers appropriate; and
"(2) such recommendations as the Secretary considers appropriate regarding—
"(A) the continuation of the pilot program;
"(B) extension of the pilot program to other or all Veterans Integrated Service Networks of the Department;
"(C) making the pilot program permanent."
RATIFICATION OF MEDICAL SERVICES CONTRACTSSection 1503(c) of Pub. L. 100–687 ratified actions of the Administrator in contracting with facilities other than Veterans' Administration facilities for furnishing medical services incident to treatment of certain veterans receiving hospital, nursing home, or domiciliary care, who applied for such services during the period beginning July 1, 1988, and ending Nov. 18, 1988.
PUERTO RICO CONTRACT CARE; LIMITATION ON INCURRING OF OBLIGATIONSPub. L. 99–166, title I, §102(b)(2)–(5), Dec. 3, 1985, 99 Stat. 943, as amended by Pub. L. 99–272, title XIX, §19012(c)(5)(B), Apr. 7, 1986, 100 Stat. 382, limited Administrator's authority to incur obligations for medical services for veterans residing in Puerto Rico during fiscal years 1986 to 1988.
Disclaimer: These codes may not be the most recent version. The United States Government Printing Office may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the US site. Please check official sources.