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United States · Law · HR

H.R. 3118 (104th)

Veterans' Health Care Eligibility Reform Act of 1996

enactedUnited States· United States Congress· EN

Introduced

20 March 1996

Last action

—

Status

Became Public Law No: 104-262.

Sponsors

—

Subjects

Discovery layer

Source updated

7 April 2025

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Summary

Veterans' Health Care Eligibility Reform Act of 1996 - Requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide hospital care and medical services to, among others, any veteran: (1) with a compensable service-connected disability (currently, for any service-connected disability, regardless of compensation); or (2) who is unable to defray the expenses of necessary medical care and services. Authorizes the Secretary, with respect to veterans not otherwise eligible for such care and services, to furnish hospital care, medical services, and nursing home care which the Secretary determines is needed. (Sec. 3) Repeals the requirement that veterans be eligible to receive hospital care through the Department of Veterans Affairs in order to receive surgical, dental, optometric, and podiatric services, but requires such eligibility before receiving certain prosthetic appliances as well as special clothing necessitated by the wearing of such appliances. (Sec. 4) Directs the Secretary, in managing the provision of hospital care and medical services, to establish and operate a system of annual patient enrollment, with specified priorities relating to the degree of disability of a veteran and related factors. Requires the Secretary to design, establish, and manage Department health care programs so as to promote cost-effective delivery of health care services in the most clinically appropriate setting. Authorizes the Secretary to contract out when Department medical facilities are not capable of economically furnishing such care and services. Requires the Department to maintain its capacity to provide for the specialized treatment and rehabilitative needs of disabled veterans, with at least the same capacity to provide such services as in existence on the date of enactment of this Act. (Sec. 5) Repeals a provision of the Veterans Health Care Act of 1992 which terminates on October 1, 1996, the authority of the Secretary to enter into agreements with the Secretary of Defense for the sharing of medical facilities and resources. Empowers the United States to collect from primary health providers of covered beneficiaries the charges for care or services covered under the primary health-plan contract which are provided through the Department. (Sec. 6) Repeals a statement of congressional purpose with respect to entering into health care resources sharing agreements with medical schools, health-care facilities, and medical research centers. Makes eligible as additional parties to such agreements health-care plans and providers, insurers, and other entities or individuals. Repeals a requirement of reciprocal reimbursement under such agreements. Allows the provision of services under such agreements to non-veterans only if the Secretary determines that such an arrangement will not result in the denial of or delay in the provision of care to any veteran in that facility and either: (1) is necessary to maintain an acceptable level and quality of service to veterans at that facility; or (2) will result in the improvement of services to eligible veterans there. (Sec. 7) Exempts from inclusion under full-time equivalent position limitations in the Department the number of positions held by persons providing health-care resources under resource sharing agreements.

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Documents

17 official files

Public Law (text)

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