Veterans Health Care Act of 2005

Summary

Veterans Health Care Act of 2005 - Provides a copayment exemption for: (1) veterans' hospice care; and (2) former prisoners of war for veterans' extended care services. Authorizes the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to reimburse certain veterans for expenses for which such veterans remain personally liable resulting from emergency treatment furnished in a non-Department of Veterans Affairs facility. Requires eligible veterans to: (1) be enrolled in a Department health care system; (2) have received veterans' health care during the 24 months preceding the furnishing of the emergency treatment; (3) be entitled to care or services under a health-plan contract that partially reimburses the cost of the emergency treatment; (4) be financially liable to the emergency care provider for costs not covered by the health-plan contract; and (5) be ineligible for reimbursement for medical care or services under other Department health-care provisions. Authorizes the Secretary to furnish care to a newborn child of a woman veteran receiving Department maternity care for up to 14 days after the birth of the child if the veteran delivered the child in a Department facility or facility under contract with the Department. Expands payer requirements for health care furnished to children of Vietnam veterans afflicted with spina bifida and associated birth disabilities. Makes permanent (currently terminates at the end of FY2005) the authority of the Secretary to make grants for certain assistance to homeless veterans. Outlines qualification requirements for Department marriage and family therapists. Requires a report on marriage and family therapy workloads. Directs the Secretary to expand and improve certain mental health services (including post-traumatic stress disorder) provided to veterans. Authorizes the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Defense to exchange certain patient protected health information. Directs the Secretary to: (1) expand Department personnel employed under the Readjustment Counseling Service's Global War on Terrorism Outreach Program; (2) increase the number of Counseling Service facilities capable of providing health services and counseling through tele-health linkages with facilities of the Veterans Health Administration; and (3) report to the veterans' committees on mental health data maintained by the Department.

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Documents

11 official files

• Referred in House (text)

  Referred in House · EN · 22 December 2005

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• Referred in House (PDF)

  Referred in House · EN · 22 December 2005

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• Engrossed in Senate (text)

  Engrossed in Senate · EN · 22 December 2005

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• Engrossed in Senate (PDF)

  Engrossed in Senate · EN · 22 December 2005

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• Passed Senate amended

  summary · EN · 22 December 2005

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• Reported to Senate (text)

  Reported to Senate · EN · 10 November 2005

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• Reported to Senate (PDF)

  Reported to Senate · EN · 10 November 2005

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• Reported to Senate with amendment(s)

  summary · EN · 10 November 2005

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• Introduced in Senate (text)

  Introduced in Senate · EN · 7 June 2005

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• Introduced in Senate (PDF)

  Introduced in Senate · EN · 7 June 2005

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• Introduced in Senate

  summary · EN · 7 June 2005

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