Alaska Hero's Card Act of 2011 - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) to establish a two-year pilot program assessing the feasibility and advisability of carrying out a program by which certain veterans entitled to VA services residing in communities in the state of Alaska that are inaccessible by motor vehicle can, subject to exceptions, receive necessary hospital care or medical services at any hospital or medical facility or from any medical provider eligible to receive payments under: (1) titles XVIII (Medicare) or XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act, (2) the TRICARE program (a Department of Defense [DOD] managed health care program), or (3) the Indian health program.
Requires the cost of any hospital care or medical service provided under the pilot program to be borne by the United States from amounts other than amounts appropriated or otherwise made available for an Indian health program. Directs the Secretary to take measures ensuring that covered veterans are not billed for hospital care and medical services received under the pilot program.
Requires the Secretary, in carrying out the pilot program, to issue to each covered veteran a card to be known as an "Alaska Hero Card" that such veteran may present to an authorized provider to establish the covered veteran's eligibility for hospital care and medical services under the pilot program.
Authorizes the Secretary to establish a list of authorized providers from whom a covered veteran may receive hospital care and medical services under the pilot program.
[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1146 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
112th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 1146
To establish a pilot program under which veterans in the State of
Alaska may receive health care benefits from the Department of Veterans
Affairs at non-Department medical facilities, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
June 6, 2011
Mr. Begich introduced the following bill; which was read twice and
referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To establish a pilot program under which veterans in the State of
Alaska may receive health care benefits from the Department of Veterans
Affairs at non-Department medical facilities, 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 ``Alaska Hero's Card Act of 2011''.
SEC. 2. PILOT PROGRAM ON PROVISION OF HEALTH CARE TO VETERANS RESIDING
IN ALASKA AT NON-DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS MEDICAL
FACILITIES.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall establish
a pilot program to assess the feasibility and advisability of carrying
out a program by which a covered veteran can, except as provided in
subsection (f), receive necessary hospital care or medical services for
any condition at any hospital or medical facility or from any medical
provider eligible to receive payments under--
(1) the Medicare program under title XVIII of the Social
Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395 et seq.);
(2) the Medicaid program under title XIX of such Act (42
U.S.C. 1396 et seq.);
(3) the TRICARE program; or
(4) the Indian health program.
(b) Covered Veteran.--For purposes of this section, a covered
veteran is any veteran who--
(1) is entitled to hospital care or medical services under
laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs;
(2) is located in the State of Alaska; and
(3) resides at a location that is located in--
(A) such State; and
(B) a town, village, or other community that is not
accessible by motor vehicle (as defined in section
30102 of title 49, United States Code).
(c) Duration of Pilot.--The pilot program shall be carried out
during the two-year period beginning on the date of the enactment of
this Act.
(d) Cost of Care and Service.--
(1) In general.--The cost of any hospital care or medical
service provided under the pilot program shall be borne by the
United States from amounts other than amounts appropriated or
otherwise made available for an Indian health program.
(2) No billing of veterans.--The Secretary shall take
measures to ensure that covered veterans are not billed for the
hospital care and medical services they receive under the pilot
program.
(e) Alaska Hero Card.--In carrying out the pilot program, the
Secretary shall issue to each covered veteran a card to be known as a
``Alaska Hero Card'' that such veteran may present to an authorized
provider to establish the covered veteran's eligibility for hospital
care and medical services under the pilot program.
(f) Authorized Providers.--The Secretary may establish a list of
authorized providers from whom a covered veteran may receive hospital
care and medical services under the pilot program.
(g) Measures To Ensure Quality and Safety of Care.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary shall take such measures as
may be necessary to ensure that the quality and safety of care
provided to veterans under the pilot program is equal to or
better than the quality and safety of care otherwise provided
by the Department of Veterans Affairs.
(2) Specific measures.--The measures described in paragraph
(1) may include requirements relating to the following:
(A) Credentialing and accreditation of providers of
hospital care or medical services.
(B) Timely reporting of access to care.
(C) Timely reporting of clinical information to the
Secretary.
(D) Reporting safety issues, patient complaints,
and patient satisfaction.
(E) Robust quality programs, including peer review
and compliance with industry standards and
requirements.
(3) Providers certified by indian health service.--For
purposes of the pilot program, the Secretary shall consider the
equality and safety of care provided by a provider described in
subsection (a)(2) who is certified by the Indian Health Service
as a community health aide pursuant to section 119 of the
Indian Health Care Improvement Act (25 U.S.C. 1616l) and who is
providing services within the scope of such certification as
being equal to or better than the quality and safety of care
otherwise provided by the Department.
(h) Savings.--Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit
any right of recovery available to an Indian health program under the
provisions of section 206 or 405(c) of the Indian Health Care
Improvement Act (25 U.S.C. 1621e and 1645(c)), or any other Federal or
State law.
(i) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Hospital care and medical services.--The terms
``hospital care'' and ``medical services'' have the meanings
given such terms in section 1701 of title 38, United States
Code.
(2) Indian health program.--The term ``Indian health
program'' has the meaning given such term in section 4 of the
Indian Health Care Improvement Act (25 U.S.C. 1603).
(3) Service-connected.--The term ``service-connected'' has
the meaning given such term in section 101 of such title.
(4) TRICARE program.--The term ``TRICARE program'' has the
meaning given such term in section 1072 of title 10, United
States Code.
<all>
Introduced in Senate
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 112-116.
Llama 3.2 · runs locally in your browser
Ask anything about this bill. The AI reads the full text to answer.
Enter to send · Shift+Enter for new line