H.R. 1527: Rural Veterans Access to Care Act

Sponsor: Rep. Jerry Moran [R-KS] Status: Introduced Mar 14, 2007 Scheduled for Debate Jul 16, 2008

This bill was considered in committee which has recommended it be considered by the House as a whole. Although it has been placed on a calendar of business, the order in which bills are considered and voted on is determined by the majority party leadership. Keep in mind that sometimes the text of one bill is incorporated into another bill, and in those cases the original bill, as it would appear here, would seem to be abandoned. [Last Updated: Jul 16, 2008]

CRS Summary: Rural Veterans Access to Care Act - Allows a highly rural veteran who is enrolled in the system of patient enrollment of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to elect to receive covered health services through a non-VA health care provider. Defines a "highly rural veteran" as one who: (1) resides more than 60 miles from the nearest VA facility providing primary care services, more than 120 miles from a VA facility providing acute hospital care, or more than 240 miles from a VA facility providing tertiary care (depending on which services the veteran needs); or (2) otherwise experiences such hardships or other difficulties in travel to the nearest appropriate VA facility that such travel is not in the best interest of the veteran. Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to furnish to a highly rural veteran such drugs and medicines as may be ordered on prescription of a duly licensed physician in the treatment of any illness or injury.