To provide for the care of veterans affected by Hurricane Katrina.

September 8, 2005

Mr. AKAKA (for himself, Mr. REID, and Mrs. MURRAY) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs

To provide for the care of veterans affected by Hurricane Katrina.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. HEALTH CARE AND SERVICES FOR VETERANS AFFECTED BY HURRICANE KATRINA.

(a) Requirement for Hospital Care and Medical Services for Priority 8 Veterans Affected by Hurricane Katrina-

(1) REQUIREMENT- The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall furnish hospital care and medical services which the Secretary determines to be needed to each priority 8 veteran affected by Hurricane Katrina as if such veteran were a veteran described by section 1710(a)(2) of title 38, United States Code.

(2) ENHANCED ENROLLMENT PRIORITY- For purposes of furnishing hospital care and medical services under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall deem each priority 8 veteran affected by Hurricane Katrina, upon the date of presentation of such veteran to the Department of Veterans Affairs for such care and services, to have enrolled in the system of annual patient enrollment of the Department under section 1705(a) of title 38, United States Code, on the first day of the current year of such system in which such date falls.

(b) Prohibition on Collection of Copayments for Veterans Affected by Hurricane Katrina- In furnishing hospital care and medical services to any veteran affected by Hurricane Katrina, the Secretary shall not collect from or with respect to such veteran any payment for such care and services otherwise required under any provision of law, including any copayment for medications otherwise required under section 1722A of title 38, United States Code.

(c) Definitions- In this section:

(1) The term `veteran affected by Hurricane Katrina' means any veteran who, as of August 29, 2005, resided in the catchment region of the Department of Veterans Affairs medical center in New Orleans, Louisiana, Biloxi, Mississippi, or Gulfport, Mississippi.

(2) The term `priority 8 veteran affected by Hurricane Katrina' means any veteran affected by Hurricane Katrina who, as of August 29, 2005, would have been treated as a veteran covered by paragraph (8) of section 1705(a) of title 38, United States Code, for purposes of enrollment in the system of annual patient enrollment of the Department of Veterans Affairs under such section.

END