RELIEVE Act
The RELIEVE Act would modify how the Department of Veterans Affairs handles reimbursement for emergency treatment received through the Veterans Community Care program. Specifically, it adds an exception to the current eligibility rule: if the emergency treatment occurred within 60 days after a veteran enrolled in the VA health care system, there would be no requirement for prior receipt of care in order to be eligible for reimbursement. The change would apply to emergency treatment furnished on or after a date one year after enactment. The bill is sponsored by Rep. Bergman (with Rep. Pappas) and introduced in the 119th Congress. In plain terms, the bill tightens the enrollment window where veterans can be reimbursed for emergency care without needing to show prior care, potentially making it easier for newly enrolled veterans to obtain reimbursement for emergency services obtained outside VA facilities.
Key Points
- 1Amends 38 U.S.C. 1725(b)(2)(B) to add an exception: if emergency treatment is furnished within 60 days after a veteran enrolls in the VA health care system, the prior receipt of care requirement does not apply.
- 2The exception applies only to emergency treatment furnished within that 60-day window after enrollment.
- 3Effective date: the amendment would apply to emergency treatment furnished on or after the date that is one year after the enactment of the Act.
- 4The change concerns reimbursement for emergency care furnished via the Veterans Community Care program (i.e., care from non-VA providers reimbursed by VA).
- 5The bill’s short title is the RELIEVE Act (Removing Extraneous Loopholes Insuring Every Veteran Emergency Act).