To amend title 38, United States Code, to require Department of Veterans Affairs pharmacies to dispense medications to veterans for prescriptions written by private practitioners, and for other purposes.

February 11, 2003

Mr. WICKER (for himself, Mr. WEXLER, Mr. TAYLOR of Mississippi, Mr. WHITFIELD, Mr. PAUL, Mr. NORWOOD, Ms. WOOLSEY, Mr. HOLDEN, Mr. FILNER, Mr. SANDLIN, Mr. COMBEST, Mr. PICKERING, Mr. FROST, Mr. DUNCAN, Mr. SHERMAN, Mr. BOUCHER, Mr. RUSH, Mr. HALL, Mr. MEEKS of New York, Mr. DAVIS of Illinois, Mr. PLATTS, Mr. UDALL of Colorado, Mr. GORDON, Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA, and Mr. CALVERT) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs

To amend title 38, United States Code, to require Department of Veterans Affairs pharmacies to dispense medications to veterans for prescriptions written by private practitioners, and for other purposes.

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the `Veterans Prescription Access Improvement Act'.

SEC. 2. AUTHORITY OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS PHARMACIES TO DISPENSE MEDICATIONS TO VETERANS ON PRESCRIPTIONS WRITTEN BY PRIVATE PRACTITIONERS.

(a) AUTHORITY- Section 1712(d) of title 38, United States Code, is amended to read as follows:

`(d) Subject to section 1722A of this title, the Secretary shall furnish to a veteran such drugs and medicines as may be ordered on prescription of a duly licensed physician in the treatment of any illness or injury of the veteran.'.

(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENTS- (1) The heading of section 1712 of such title is amended by striking the sixth through ninth words.

(2) The item relating to section 1712 in the table of sections at the beginning of chapter 17 of such title is amended by striking the sixth through ninth words.

END