S. 1951 — Introduced in Senate

II 118th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 1951 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES June 13, 2023Mr. Sanders (for himself and Mr. Welch) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs A BILL To amend title 38, United States Code, to expand entitlement of veterans to care from the Department of Veterans Affairs and to guarantee health care benefits for veterans enrolled in the patient enrollment system of the Department, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Department of Veterans Affairs Income Eligibility Standardization Act. 2. Expansion of entitlement of veterans to care from Department of Veterans Affairs (a) In general Section 1710(a) of title 38, United States Code, is amended— (1) in paragraph (3)— (A) by striking may, to the extent resources and facilities are available and and inserting a comma; and (B) by striking furnish hospital care, medical services, and nursing home care and inserting shall furnish hospital care and medical services, and may furnish nursing home care; and (2) in paragraph (4), by striking paragraphs (1) and (2) and inserting paragraphs (1), (2), and (3). (b) Priority The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall eliminate all subcategories of priority for enrollment established by the Secretary for veterans eligible for enrollment under paragraph (8) of section 1705(a) of title 38, United States Code, and shall ensure that all veterans eligible for enrollment under such paragraph may enroll in the patient enrollment system of the Department of Veterans Affairs under such section. 3. Guarantee of health care benefits for veterans enrolled in patient enrollment system of Department The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall ensure that all veterans, once enrolled in the patient enrollment system of the Department of Veterans Affairs under section 1705(a) of title 38, United States Code, remain enrolled in such system and may continue receiving health care furnished by the Department if they choose, subject to such cost-sharing requirements as may apply to the veteran under existing provisions of law.