,i  #aah? ,,congress  #a/ ,session  ,h4 
,r4 #eecj  ,,9 ,,! ,,h\se ,,(           
,,repres5tatives  ,septemb] #ah1        
#bjbc,mr4 ,bo/ introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2 
:i* 0 ref]r$ to ! ,committee on         
,vet]ans' ,affairs  ,a ,,bill  ,to      
provide = c]ta9 limitations to !        
au?ority ( ! ,secret>y ( ,vet]ans       
,affairs to make *anges to ! ,dep>tm5t (
 ,vet]ans ,affairs rate ( paym5t or     
reimbursem5t provid$ = transportation ( 
vet]ans & o!r eligible individuals on   
special modes ( transportation1 & = o!r 
purposes4  #a4 ,%ort title ,?is ,act may
 be cit$ z ! ,,va ,em]g5cy              
,transportation ,access ,act4  #b4      
,au?ority = *anges to ,dep>tm5t (       
,vet]ans ,affairs rate ( paym5t or      
reimbursem5t provid$ = transportation ( 
vet]ans & o!r eligible individuals on   
special modes ( transportation  7a7 ,9  
g5]al ,! ,secret>y ( ,vet]ans ,affairs  
may n *ange ! rate ( paym5t or          
reimbursem5t provid$ = ! transportation 
( a vet]an or o!r eligible individual on

 a special mode ( transportation1 z 9   
effect on ,janu>y #a1 #bjbc1 unless--   
7#a7 su* *ange w\ld increase ! rate (   
su* paym5t or reimbursem5t2 or  7#b7    
be=e ! effective date ( su* *ange1 !    
,secret>y-- 7,a7 conducts a ?or\gh      
review & analysis (-- 7i7 ! economic    
effect ( ! *ange on ! ,dep>tm5t (       
,vet]ans ,affairs2  7ii7 ! economic     
effect ( ! *ange on ! indu/ry associat$ 
) ! special mode ( transportation t w\ld
 be affect$ by ! *ange2 &  7iii7 !      
effect ( ! *ange on access to c>e =     
vet]ans2  7,b7 develops a =mal process  
to ensure t any *ange made to su* rate  
does n r$uce ! access to c>e = vet]ans2 
&  7,c7 ensures t ! new rate reflects1  
at a m9imum1 ! actual co/ ( su*         
transportation4  7b7 ,consultation      
requirem5t ,! ,secret>y %all c>ry out   
any review "u subsection 7a77#b77;,a7 & 
develop any process "u subsection       
7a77#b77;,b7 9 consultation ) a         
committee made up ( ea* ( ! foll[+1 :o  
%all be appo9t$ by ! ,secret>y3 7#a7    

,relevant indu/ry exp]ts4  7#b7         
,repres5tatives ( ! ,c5t]s = ,m$ic>e &  
,m$icaid ,s]vices4  7#c7 ,dep>tm5t      
employees ) subject matt] exp]tise 9    
transportation1 access to c>e1 integrat$
 vet]an c>e1 rural vet]ans1 ,native     
,am]ican vet]ans1 & o!r matt]s det]m9e  
appropriate by ! ,secret>y4  7#d7       
,repres5tatives ( vet]an s]vice         
organizations4  7c7 ,template & process 
= affect$ contracts ,n lat] ?an two ye>s
 be=e ! effective date ( any *ange made 
to ! rate ( paym5t or reimbursem5t =    
special modes ( transportation pursuant 
to subsection 7a7 t affects ! rate      
payable "u any contract ( ! ,dep>tm5t1 !
 ,secret>y %all-- 7#a7 e/abli% a        
template & a /&>diz$ process = ent]+    
into & mak+ *anges to rates 9 effect "u 
su* contract2  7#b7 issue guidance ab\t 
! use ( su* template & process )9 !     
,dep>tm5t & across ! indu/ry associat$ )
 special modes ( transportation2 &  7#c7
 submit to ,congress a report t includes
 a description ( ! template & process4  

7d7 ,special mode ( transportation ,9   
?is section1 ! t]m special mode (       
transportation-- 7#a7 means an          
ambulance1 ambulette1 air ambulance1    
:eel*air van1 or o!r mode (             
transportation specially design$ to     
transport disabl$ p]sons2 &  7#b7 does n
 include-- 7,a7 a mode ( transportation 
n specifically design$ to transport     
disabl$ p]sons1 su* z a bus1 subway1    
taxi1 tra91 or airplane2 or  7,b7 a     
modifi$1 privately own$ vehicle1 )      
special adaptive equipm5t or t is       
capable ( transport+ disabl$ p]sons4