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Bill114th CongressFiled Jul 27, 2015Armed Forces and National Security
H.R. 3216

VET Act

Bill journey · stage 2 of 5

Under committee review

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Law

What it doesSummary passed house without amendment (Sep 26, 2016)

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)

Veterans Emergency Treatment Act or the VET 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.

What just happenedSep 27, 2016

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

Who’s behind it

Rep. Newhouse, Dan [R-WA-4](R-WA)Sponsor
13 cosponsors2 D11 R
Read on Congress.gov
13cosponsors2committees14actions8subjects
  1. Sep 27, 2016IntroReferral

    Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

    Veterans' Affairs Committee
  2. Sep 26, 2016FloorH38310

    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

  3. Sep 26, 2016FloorH37300

    On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H5891-5892)

  4. Sep 26, 2016Floor8000

    Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H5891-5892)

  5. Sep 26, 2016FloorH8D000

    DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 3216.

  6. Sep 26, 2016FloorH30000

    Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H5891-5892)

  7. Sep 26, 2016FloorH30300

    Mr. Miller (FL) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.

  8. Sep 21, 2016Committee

    Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote.

    Veterans' Affairs Committee
  9. Sep 21, 2016Committee

    Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

    Veterans' Affairs Committee
  10. Aug 6, 2015Committee

    Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

    Health Subcommittee
  11. Jul 27, 2015IntroReferralH11100

    Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

    Veterans' Affairs Committee
  12. Jul 27, 2015IntroReferralB00100

    Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E1131)

  13. Jul 27, 2015IntroReferralIntro-H

    Introduced in House

  14. Jul 27, 2015IntroReferral1000

    Introduced in House

Passed House without amendmentSep 26, 201681

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)

Veterans Emergency Treatment Act or the VET 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.

Introduced in HouseJul 27, 2015

Veterans Emergency Treatment Act or the VET Act

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.

If a non-stabilized emergency medical condition exists the VA hospital may not transfer the veteran unless the veteran, after being made aware of the risks, makes a written transfer request, or a physician (or a qualified medical person if a physician is not present) certifies that the medical benefits of a transfer outweigh the risks.

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 a requirement of this Act.

A VA or non-VA medical facility may not delay provision of an appropriate medical screening examination or further medical examination and treatment required in order to inquire about the payment method or insurance status of an enrolled veteran.

VET Act — Informed