US Congress House Bill 3216 (Prior Session Legislation)

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Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Republican 12-2)
Status: Engrossed on September 27 2016 - 50% progression, died in committee
Action: 2016-09-27 - Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
Pending: Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee
Text: Latest bill text (Engrossed) [PDF]

VET Act Veterans Emergency Treatment Act (Sec. 1) This bill declares that, if a veteran who is enrolled in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care program requests a medical examination or treatment at an emergency department of a VA medical facility, the veteran shall be provided with: a medical screening examination to determine whether an emergency medical condition exists; and if an emergency condition exists, stabilizing medical treatment or transfer to another VA or non-VA medical facility. The VA is deemed to have met such requirements if it offers to transfer the veteran to another medical facility, informs the veteran of the transfer's risks and benefits, and the veteran refuses to consent to the transfer. If a non-stabilized emergency medical condition exists the VA hospital may not transfer the veteran unless: the veteran (or individual), after being made aware of the risks, makes a written transfer request; a physician certifies that the medical benefits of a transfer outweigh the risks to the veteran and, in the case of a woman in labor, to the unborn child; if a physician is not present in the emergency department at the time of transfer, a qualified medical person has made such certification after a physician has determined that a transfer's benefit outweighs the risk and a physician subsequently countersigns the qualified medical person's certification; and the transfer is to a medical facility with the necessary treatment capacities. A VA or non-VA medical facility that has specialized capabilities or facilities (such as burn units, shock-trauma units, neonatal intensive care units, or, with respect to rural areas, regional referral centers) shall not refuse to accept a transfer if the facility has the capacity to treat the veteran. A VA or non-VA medical facility may not delay a medical screening examination or further medical examination and treatment in order to inquire about a veteran's payment method or insurance status. The VA may not take adverse action against a VA employee because the employee refuses to authorize the transfer of an enrolled veteran with a non-stabilized emergency medical condition or because the employee reports a violation of this bill.

VET Act Veterans Emergency Treatment Act

Rep. Dan Newhouse [R-WA]	Rep. Charles Boustany [R-LA]	Rep. Madeleine Bordallo [D-GU]	Rep. Robert Latta [R-OH]
Rep. Bob Goodlatte [R-VA]	Rep. Jeb Hensarling [R-TX]	Rep. Walter Jones [R-NC]	Rep. Amata Radewagen [R-AS]
Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers [R-WA]	Rep. Stevan Pearce [R-NM]	Rep. Pete Olson [R-TX]	Rep. Derek Kilmer [D-WA]
Rep. Michael Burgess [R-TX]	Rep. Tom McClintock [R-CA]

Date	Chamber	Action
2016-09-27	Senate	Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
2016-09-26	House	Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
2016-09-26	House	On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H5891-5892)
2016-09-26	House	DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 3216.
2016-09-26	House	Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H5891-5892)
2016-09-26	House	Mr. Miller (FL) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
2016-09-21	House	Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote.
2016-09-21	House	Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
2015-08-06	House	Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
2015-07-27	House	Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
2015-07-27	House	Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E1131)
2015-07-27	House	Introduced in House

Type	Source
Summary	https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/3216/all-info
Text	https://www.congress.gov/114/bills/hr3216/BILLS-114hr3216ih.pdf
Text	https://www.congress.gov/114/bills/hr3216/BILLS-114hr3216eh.pdf