VA Newborn Emergency Treatment Act
This bill authorizes the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to furnish transportation in connection with the receipt of covered health care services for a newborn child of a woman veteran (and the child's parents). The bill expands covered health care services to include services furnished at health care facilities other than the facility where the child was delivered.
Under the bill, the VA may furnish more than seven days of health care services and transportation to such services if a child is in need of additional care.
Expenses incurred for transportation furnished in order for a newborn child of a veteran to receive health care services prior to the enactment of this bill may be waived or reimbursed to the veteran by the VA.
[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2752 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
116th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2752
To authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to furnish medically
necessary transportation for newborn children of certain women
veterans.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
May 15, 2019
Mr. Allred introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Veterans' Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to furnish medically
necessary transportation for newborn children of certain women
veterans.
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 ``VA Newborn Emergency Treatment
Act''.
SEC. 2. AUTHORITY FOR SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS TO FURNISH
MEDICALLY NECESSARY TRANSPORTATION FOR NEWBORN CHILDREN
OF CERTAIN WOMEN VETERANS.
(a) In General.--Section 1786 of title 38, United States Code, is
amended--
(1) in subsection (a)--
(A) in the matter before paragraph (1)--
(i) by inserting ``and transportation
necessary to receive such services'' after
``described in subsection (b)''; and
(ii) by inserting ``, except as provided in
subsection (e),'' after ``seven days'';
(B) in paragraph (1), by striking ``or'';
(C) in paragraph (2), by striking the period at the
end and inserting ``; or''; and
(D) by adding at the end the following new
paragraph:
``(3) another location, including a health care facility,
if the veteran delivers the child before arriving at a facility
described in paragraph (1) or (2).'';
(2) in subsection (b), by inserting before the period at
the end the following: ``, including necessary health care
services provided by a facility other than the facility where
the newborn child was delivered (including a specialty
pediatric hospital) that accepts transfer of the newborn child
and responsibility for treatment of the newborn child''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following new subsections:
``(c) Transportation.--(1) Transportation furnished under
subsection (a) to, from, or between care settings to meet the needs of
a newborn child includes costs for either or both the newborn child and
parents.
``(2) Transportation furnished under subsection (a) includes
transportation by ambulance, including air ambulance, or other
appropriate medically staffed modes of transportation--
``(A) to another health care facility (including a
specialty pediatric hospital) that accepts transfer of the
newborn child or otherwise provides post-delivery care services
when the treating facility is not capable of furnishing the
care or services required; or
``(B) to a health care facility in a medical emergency of
such nature that a prudent layperson reasonably expects that
delay in seeking immediate medical attention would be hazardous
to life or health.
``(3) Amounts paid by the Department for transportation under this
section shall be derived from the Medical Services appropriations
account of the Department.
``(d) Reimbursement or Payment for Health Care Services or
Transportation.--(1) Pursuant to regulations the Secretary shall
prescribe to establish rates of reimbursement and any limitations
thereto under this section, the Secretary shall directly reimburse a
covered entity for health care services or transportation services
provided under this section, unless the cost of the services or
transportation is covered by an established agreement or contract. If
such an agreement or contract exists, its negotiated payment terms
shall apply.
``(2)(A) Reimbursement or payment by the Secretary under this
section on behalf of an individual to a covered entity shall, unless
rejected and refunded by the covered entity within 30 days of receipt,
extinguish any liability on the part of the individual for the health
care services or transportation covered by such payment.
``(B) Neither the absence of a contract or agreement between the
Secretary and a covered entity nor any provision of a contract,
agreement, or assignment to the contrary shall operate to modify,
limit, or negate the requirements of subparagraph (A).
``(3) In this subsection, the term `covered entity' means any
individual, transportation carrier, organization, or other entity that
furnished or paid for health care services or transportation under this
section.
``(e) Exception.--Pursuant to such regulations as the Secretary
shall prescribe to carry out this section, the Secretary may furnish
more than seven days of health care services described in subsection
(b), and transportation necessary to receive such services, to a
newborn child based on medical necessity if the child is in need of
additional care, including a case in which the newborn child has been
discharged or released from a hospital and requires readmittance to
ensure the health and welfare of the newborn child.''.
(b) Treatment of Certain Debts Already Incurred.--Pursuant to such
regulations as the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall prescribe, the
Secretary may waive a debt for or reimburse a veteran billed for the
cost of transportation that was furnished in order for a newborn child
to receive health care services under section 1786 of title 38, United
States Code, before the date of the enactment of this Act.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Subcommittee Hearings Held.
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