119-hr439

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 439 Introduced in House

    (IH) ]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
 1st Session
 H. R. 439

 To amend title 38, United States Code, to require the Department of 
Veterans Affairs to furnish hospital care and medical services outside 
 a State to veterans with service-connected disabilities rated as 
 permanent and total, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

 January 15, 2025

 Mr. LaLota introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
 Committee on Veterans' Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

 A BILL

 To amend title 38, United States Code, to require the Department of 
Veterans Affairs to furnish hospital care and medical services outside 
 a State to veterans with service-connected disabilities rated as 
 permanent and total, 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. SHORT TITLE.

 This Act may be cited as the ``Veterans Foreign Medical Coverage 
Equality and Modernization Act of 2025''.

SEC. 2. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS FURNISHING OF HOSPITAL CARE AND 
 MEDICAL SERVICES OUTSIDE A STATE TO VETERANS WITH 
 SERVICE-CONNECTED DISABILITIES RATED AS PERMANENT AND 
 TOTAL.

    (a) In General.--

Section 1724 of title 38, United States Code, is 
amended--

    (1) in subsection

    (a) , by striking ``and

    (f) '' and 
 inserting ``

    (f) , and

    (g) ''; and

    (2) by adding at the end the following new subsections:
 ``

    (g) The Secretary shall furnish hospital care and medical 
services outside a State to a veteran with a service-connected 
disability rated as permanent and total who is otherwise eligible to 
receive hospital care and medical services if the Secretary determines 
that--
 ``

    (1) the hospital care or medical services furnished are 
 consistent with the standard medical practice in the United 
 States; and
 ``

    (2) in the case of any prescription medication furnished, 
 such medication is approved by the Food and Drug 
 Administration.
 ``

    (h) In carrying out this section, the Secretary shall ensure 
that--
 ``

    (1) reimbursements made to veterans and medical providers 
 can be made by direct deposit payments in such a manner as to 
 expedite such reimbursements, improve efficiency, and reduce 
 administrative costs; and
 ``

    (2) the appropriate mobile applications of the Department 
 provide for--
 ``
        (A) the digital submission and real-time tracking 
 of any forms and supporting documentation required for 
 the receipt of hospital care or medical services, or 
 reimbursement for such care or services, under this 
 section; and
 ``
        (B) the availability of any benefits 
 authorization letter, predetermination letter, or 
 continuity of care document associated with hospital 
 care or medical services furnished under this 
 section.''.

    (b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsection

    (a) shall 
take effect on the date that is 90 days after the date of the enactment 
of this Act and apply with respect to hospital care or medical services 
furnished on or after such date.
            (c) Report.--Not later than two years after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit 
to Congress a report on the amendments made by this Act. Such report 
shall include an analysis of the implementation of such amendments, any 
challenges encountered, and the efficacy of the hospital care and 
medical services furnished pursuant to such amendments.
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