To provide for certain limitations to the authority of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to make changes to the Department of Veterans Affairs rate of payment or reimbursement provided for transportation of veterans and other eligible individuals on special modes of transportation, and for other purposes.
About This Bill
Committee
Latest Action · April 16, 2024
Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote.
The VA Emergency Transportation Access Act restricts the Department of Veterans Affairs' ability to reduce payment rates for specialized medical transportation services like ambulances, air ambulances, and wheelchair vans. Under the bill, the VA can only lower these rates from their January 1, 2023 levels if it first conducts a thorough review examining the economic impact on both the department and the transportation industry, ensures the new rates cover actual transportation costs, and develops safeguards to prevent reduced access to care for veterans. The Secretary must carry out this review and process development in consultation with transportation industry experts, Medicare and Medicaid representatives, VA subject matter experts, and veteran service organizations. For any rate changes affecting existing contracts, the VA must establish a standardized template and process at least two years before implementation and report to Congress on these procedures. This legislation primarily affects veterans and other eligible individuals who rely on specialized medical transportation, the medical transport industry, and the VA's transportation payment policies.
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