# What This Bill Does

When veterans need emergency medical care at hospitals or clinics that aren't run by the Department of Veterans Affairs, they normally have to get approval from the VA to cover those costs. This bill makes it easier for veterans to get that approval by giving them more time to submit the paperwork after they leave the hospital.

Currently, veterans (or their family members) have to notify the VA very quickly after receiving emergency care at a non-VA facility, or they might not get reimbursed. This bill changes that by requiring the VA to give veterans at least 72 hours after they're discharged from the hospital to submit their application for coverage. The VA can set a longer deadline if it wants to, but it can't make the deadline shorter than three days. This is important because when someone is dealing with a medical emergency, they're often focused on their health and recovery, not on paperwork deadlines. A veteran might be in the hospital for a few days, get discharged, and then have time to contact the VA about payment without rushing through the process while still recovering.

The change applies to any emergency admissions that happen after this bill becomes law. It's a straightforward adjustment aimed at reducing the burden on veterans who need emergency care outside the VA system and making sure they don't lose coverage simply because they couldn't file paperwork fast enough while dealing with a health crisis.

Emergency Community Care Notification Time Adjustment Act of 2022

Mast, Brian J.

Emergency Community Care Notification Time Adjustment Act of 2022 This bill modifies the Veterans Community Care Program by requiring the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to deem as authorized emergency care or services provided by a non-VA provider to a covered veteran if the veteran (or an individual acting on the veteran's behalf) submits an application for such authorization by a deadline determined appropriate by the VA, which may not be earlier than 72 hours following the veteran's discharge from the facility. Covered veterans are those who are enrolled in the VA health care system or those who are not enrolled but are eligible for care due to a service-connected disability.