
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
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[Laws in effect as of January 23, 2000]
[Document affected by Public Law 107-135 Section 208(a)(1)]
[Document affected by Public Law 107-135 Section 208(e)(2)]
[Document affected by Public Law 106-419 Section 221(b)]
[Document affected by Public Law 107-135 Section 201(b)(2)]
[Document affected by Public Law 107-135 Section 208(f)(1)]
[Document affected by Public Law 107-95 Section 5(g)(1)]
[CITE: 38USC1701]

 
                      TITLE 38--VETERANS' BENEFITS
 
                        PART II--GENERAL BENEFITS
 
    CHAPTER 17--HOSPITAL, NURSING HOME, DOMICILIARY, AND MEDICAL CARE
 
                          SUBCHAPTER I--GENERAL
 
Sec. 1701. Definitions

    For the purposes of this chapter--
    (1) The term ``disability'' means a disease, injury, or other 
physical or mental defect.
    (2) The term ``veteran of any war'' includes any veteran awarded the 
Medal of Honor.
    (3) The term ``facilities of the Department'' means--
        (A) facilities over which the Secretary has direct jurisdiction;
        (B) Government facilities for which the Secretary contracts; and
        (C) public or private facilities at which the Secretary provides 
    recreational activities for patients receiving care under section 
    1710 of this title.

    (4) The term ``non-Department facilities'' means facilities other 
than Department facilities.
    (5) The term ``hospital care'' includes--
        (A)(i) medical services rendered in the course of the 
    hospitalization of any veteran, and (ii) travel and incidental 
    expenses pursuant to the provisions of section 111 of this title;
        (B) such mental health services, consultation, professional 
    counseling, and training for the members of the immediate family or 
    legal guardian of a veteran, or the individual in whose household 
    such veteran certifies an intention to live, as may be essential to 
    the effective treatment and rehabilitation of a veteran or dependent 
    or survivor of a veteran receiving care under the last sentence of 
    section 1713(b) of this title; and
        (C)(i) medical services rendered in the course of the 
    hospitalization of a dependent or survivor of a veteran receiving 
    care under the last sentence of section 1713(b) of this title, and 
    (ii) travel and incidental expenses for such dependent or survivor 
    under the terms and conditions set forth in section 111 of this 
    title.

    (6) The term ``medical services'' includes, in addition to medical 
examination, treatment, and rehabilitative services--
        (A)(i) surgical services, dental services and appliances as 
    described in sections 1710 and 1712 of this title, optometric and 
    podiatric services, preventive health services, and (in the case of 
    a person otherwise receiving care or services under this chapter) 
    wheelchairs, artificial limbs, trusses, and similar appliances, 
    special clothing made necessary by the wearing of prosthetic 
    appliances, and such other supplies or services as the Secretary 
    determines to be reasonable and necessary, except that the Secretary 
    may not furnish sensori-neural aids other than in accordance with 
    guidelines which the Secretary shall prescribe, and (ii) travel and 
    incidental expenses pursuant to the provisions of section 111 of 
    this title; and
        (B)(i) such consultation, professional counseling, training, and 
    mental health services as are necessary in connection with the 
    treatment--
            (I) of the service-connected disability of a veteran 
        pursuant to paragraph (1) or (2) of section 1710(a) of this 
        title, and
            (II) in the discretion of the Secretary, of the non-service-
        connected disability of a veteran eligible for treatment under 
        paragraph (1), (2) or (3) of section 1710(a) of this title where 
        such services were initiated during the veteran's 
        hospitalization and the provision of such services on an 
        outpatient basis is essential to permit the discharge of the 
        veteran from the hospital,

    for the members of the immediate family or legal guardian of a 
    veteran, or the individual in whose household such veteran certifies 
    an intention to live, as may be essential to the effective treatment 
    and rehabilitation of the veteran (including, under the terms and 
    conditions set forth in section 111 of this title, travel and 
    incidental expenses of such family member or individual in the case 
    of a veteran who is receiving care for a service-connected 
    disability, or in the case of a dependent or survivor of a veteran 
    receiving care under the last sentence of section 1713(b) of this 
    title); and
        (ii) in the case of an individual who was a recipient of 
    services under subclause (i) of this clause at the time of--
            (I) the unexpected death of the veteran; or
            (II) the death of the veteran while the veteran was 
        participating in a hospice program (or a similar program) 
        conducted by the Secretary,

    such counseling services, for a limited period, as the Secretary 
    determines to be reasonable and necessary to assist such individual 
    with the emotional and psychological stress accompanying the 
    veteran's death.

For the purposes of this paragraph, a dependent or survivor of a veteran 
receiving care under the last sentence of section 1713(b) of this title 
shall be eligible for the same medical services as a veteran.
    (7) The term ``domiciliary care'' includes necessary medical 
services and travel and incidental expenses pursuant to the provisions 
of section 111 of this title.
    (8) The term ``rehabilitative services'' means such professional, 
counseling, and guidance services and treatment programs (other than 
those types of vocational rehabilitation services provided under chapter 
31 of this title) as are necessary to restore, to the maximum extent 
possible, the physical, mental, and psychological functioning of an ill 
or disabled person.
    (9) The term ``preventive health services'' means--
        (A) periodic medical and dental examinations;
        (B) patient health education (including nutrition education);
        (C) maintenance of drug use profiles, patient drug monitoring, 
    and drug utilization education;
        (D) mental health preventive services;
        (E) substance abuse prevention measures;
        (F) immunizations against infectious disease;
        (G) prevention of musculoskeletal deformity or other gradually 
    developing disabilities of a metabolic or degenerative nature;
        (H) genetic counseling concerning inheritance of genetically 
    determined diseases;
        (I) routine vision testing and eye care services;
        (J) periodic reexamination of members of likely target 
    populations (high-risk groups) for selected diseases and for 
    functional decline of sensory organs, together with attendant 
    appropriate remedial intervention; and
        (K) such other health-care services as the Secretary may 
    determine to be necessary to provide effective and economical 
    preventive health care.

    (10)(A) During the period beginning on the date of the enactment of 
the Veterans Millennium Health Care and Benefits Act and ending on 
December 31, 2003, the term ``medical services'' includes 
noninstitutional extended care services.
    (B) For the purposes of subparagraph (A), the term 
``noninstitutional extended care services'' means such alternatives to 
institutional extended care which the Secretary may furnish (i) 
directly, (ii) by contract, or (iii) (through provision of case 
management) by another provider or payor.

(Pub. L. 85-857, Sept. 2, 1958, 72 Stat. 1141, Sec. 601; Pub. L. 86-598, 
July 7, 1960, 74 Stat. 335; Pub. L. 86-639, Sec. 2, July 12, 1960, 74 
Stat. 472; Pub. L. 88-481, Aug. 22, 1964, 78 Stat. 593; Pub. L. 90-612, 
Sec. 2, Oct. 21, 1968, 82 Stat. 1202; Pub. L. 93-82, title I, Sec. 101, 
Aug. 2, 1973, 87 Stat. 179; Pub. L. 94-581, title I, Sec. 102, title II, 
Sec. 202(b), Oct. 21, 1976, 90 Stat. 2843, 2855; Pub. L. 95-520, Sec. 5, 
Oct. 26, 1978, 92 Stat. 1820; Pub. L. 96-22, title I, Sec. 102(c), title 
II, Sec. 201(a), June 13, 1979, 93 Stat. 48, 54; Pub. L. 96-151, title 
II, Secs. 201(b), 202, Dec. 20, 1979, 93 Stat. 1093, 1094; Pub. L. 97-
72, title I, Sec. 101, Nov. 3, 1981, 95 Stat. 1047; Pub. L. 97-251, 
Sec. 4, Sept. 8, 1982, 96 Stat. 716; Pub. L. 98-105, Sept. 30, 1983, 97 
Stat. 730; Pub. L. 98-160, title I, Sec. 106(a), Nov. 21, 1983, 97 Stat. 
998; Pub. L. 98-528, title I, Sec. 103(a), Oct. 19, 1984, 98 Stat. 2688; 
Pub. L. 99-108, Sec. 2, Sept. 30, 1985, 99 Stat. 481; Pub. L. 99-166, 
title I, Sec. 102(a), Dec. 3, 1985, 99 Stat. 943; Pub. L. 99-272, title 
XIX, Secs. 19011(d)(2), 19012(a), Apr. 7, 1986, 100 Stat. 378, 380; Pub. 
L. 99-576, title II, Sec. 203, Oct. 28, 1986, 100 Stat. 3255; Pub. L. 
100-322, title I, Sec. 131, May 20, 1988, 102 Stat. 506; Pub. L. 102-54, 
Sec. 14(b)(8), June 13, 1991, 105 Stat. 283; renumbered Sec. 1701 and 
amended Pub. L. 102-83, Secs. 4(a)(2)(E), (3)-(5), (b)(1), (2)(E), 5(a), 
(c)(1), Aug. 6, 1991, 105 Stat. 404-406; Pub. L. 102-585, title V, 
Sec. 513, Nov. 4, 1992, 106 Stat. 4958; Pub. L. 103-446, title XII, 
Sec. 1202(b)(1), Nov. 2, 1994, 108 Stat. 4689; Pub. L. 104-262, title I, 
Secs. 101(d)(1), 103(a), Oct. 9, 1996, 110 Stat. 3179, 3182; Pub. L. 
106-117, title I, Sec. 101(b), Nov. 30, 1999, 113 Stat. 1548.)

                       References in Text

    The date of the enactment of the Veterans Millennium Health Care and 
Benefits Act, referred to in par. (10)(A), is the date of enactment of 
Pub. L. 106-117, which was approved Nov. 30, 1999.

                          Codification

    The text of section 1762 of this title, which was transferred to the 
end of this section, redesignated as par. (9), and amended by Pub. L. 
102-585, was based on Pub. L. 96-22, title I, Sec. 105(a), June 13, 
1979, 93 Stat. 52, Sec. 662; renumbered Sec. 1762 and amended Pub. L. 
102-83, Secs. 4(b)(1), (2)(E), 5(a), Aug. 6, 1991, 105 Stat. 404-406.


                            Prior Provisions

    Prior sections 1700 and 1701 were renumbered sections 3500 and 3501 
of this title, respectively.


                               Amendments

    1999--Par. (10). Pub. L. 106-117 added par. (10).
    1996--Par. (6)(A)(i). Pub. L. 104-262, Sec. 103(a), struck out ``(in 
the case of a person otherwise receiving care or services under this 
chapter)'' before ``preventive health services,'', substituted ``(in the 
case of a person otherwise receiving care or services under this 
chapter)'' for ``(except under the conditions described in section 
1712(a)(5)(A) of this title),'', and inserted ``except that the 
Secretary may not furnish sensori-neural aids other than in accordance 
with guidelines which the Secretary shall prescribe,'' after 
``reasonable and necessary,''.
    Par. (6)(B)(i)(I). Pub. L. 104-262, Sec. 101(d)(1)(A), substituted 
``paragraph (1) or (2) of section 1710(a)'' for ``section 1712(a)''.
    Par. (6)(B)(i)(II). Pub. L. 104-262, Sec. 101(d)(1)(B), substituted 
``paragraph (1), (2) or (3) of section 1710(a)'' for ``section 
1712(a)(5)(B)''.
    1994--Par. (3). Pub. L. 103-446 made technical correction to 
directory language of Pub. L. 102-83, Sec. 4(a)(2)(E). See 1991 
Amendment note below.
    1992--Par. (6)(A)(i). Pub. L. 102-585, Sec. 513(b), substituted 
``preventive health services,'' for ``preventive health-care services as 
defined in section 1762 of this title,''.
    Par. (9). Pub. L. 102-585, Sec. 513(a), transferred the text of 
section 1762 of this title to the end of this section and redesignated 
it as par. (9), substituted ``The term `preventive health service' 
means'' for ``For the purposes of this subchapter, the term `preventive 
health-care services' means'', and redesignated pars. (1) to (11) as 
subpars. (A) to (K), respectively. See Codification note above.
    1991--Pub. L. 102-83, Sec. 5(a), renumbered section 601 of this 
title as this section.
    Par. (2). Pub. L. 102-54, Sec. 14(b)(8)(A), struck out ``any veteran 
of the Indian Wars, or'' after ``includes''.
    Par. (3). Pub. L. 102-83, Sec. 5(c)(1), substituted ``1710'' for 
``610'' in subpar. (C).
    Pub. L. 102-83, Sec. 4(b)(1), (2)(E), substituted ``Secretary'' for 
``Administrator'' in subpars. (A) to (C).
    Pub. L. 102-83, Sec. 4(a)(2)(E), as amended by Pub. L. 103-446, 
substituted ``facilities of the Department'' for ``Veterans' 
Administration facilities''.
    Pub. L. 102-54, Sec. 14(b)(8)(B), (C), redesignated par. (4) as (3) 
and struck out former par. (3) which read as follows: ``The term `period 
of war' includes each of the Indian Wars.''
    Par. (4). Pub. L. 102-83, Sec. 4(a)(5), substituted ``non-
Department'' for ``non-Veterans' Administration''.
    Pub. L. 102-83, Sec. 4(a)(3), (4), substituted ``Department'' for 
``Veterans' Administration''.
    Pub. L. 102-54, Sec. 14(b)(8)(E), redesignated par. (9) as (4).
    Par. (5). Pub. L. 102-83, Sec. 5(c)(1), substituted ``1713(b)'' for 
``613(b)'' in subpars. (B) and (C)(i).
    Par. (6). Pub. L. 102-83, Sec. 5(c)(1), in subpar. (A) substituted 
``1710 and 1712'' for ``610 and 612'', ``1762'' for ``662'', and 
``1712(a)(5)(A)'' for ``612(a)(5)(A)'', in subpar. (B) substituted 
``1712(a)'' for ``612(a)'', ``1712(a)(5)(B)'' for ``612(a)(5)(B)'', and 
``1713(b)'' for ``613(b)'', and in last sentence substituted ``1713(b)'' 
for ``613(b)''.
    Pub. L. 102-83, Sec. 4(b)(1), (2)(E), substituted ``Secretary'' for 
``Administrator'' wherever appearing.
    Pub. L. 102-54, Sec. 14(b)(8)(D), substituted ``612(a)(5)(A)'' for 
``612(f)(1)(A)(i)'' in subpar. (A)(i) and ``612(a)(5)(B)'' for 
``612(f)(1)(A)(ii)'' in subpar. (B)(i)(II).
    Par. (9). Pub. L. 102-54, Sec. 14(b)(8)(E), redesignated par. (9) as 
(4).
    1988--Par. (4)(C). Pub. L. 100-322 added subpar. (C).
    1986--Par. (4). Pub. L. 99-272, Sec. 19012(a)(1), struck out cl. (C) 
and provision following such clause, both relating to private facilities 
under contract as Veterans' Administration facilities.
    Par. (6)(A)(i). Pub. L. 99-272, Sec. 19011(d)(2)(A), substituted 
``section 612(f)(1)(A)(i)'' for ``section 612(f)(1)(A)''.
    Par. (6)(B). Pub. L. 99-576 amended subpar. (B) generally. Prior to 
amendment, subpar. (B) read as follows: ``such consultation, 
professional counseling, training, and mental health services as are 
necessary in connection with the treatment--
        ``(i) of the service-connected disability of a veteran pursuant 
    to section 612(a) of this title, and
        ``(ii) in the discretion of the Administrator, of the non-
    service-connected disability of a veteran eligible for treatment 
    under section 612(f)(1)(A)(ii) of this title where such services 
    were initiated during the veteran's hospitalization and the 
    provision of such services on an outpatient basis is essential to 
    permit the discharge of the veteran from the hospital,
for the members of the immediate family or legal guardian of a veteran, 
or the individual in whose household such veteran certifies an intention 
to live, as may be essential to the effective treatment and 
rehabilitation of the veteran (including, under the terms and conditions 
set forth in section 111 of this title, travel and incidental expenses 
of such family member or individual in the case of a veteran who is 
receiving care for a service-connected disability, or in the case of 
dependent or survivor of a veteran receiving care under the last 
sentence of section 613(b) of this title). For the purposes of this 
paragraph, a dependent or survivor of a veteran receiving care under the 
last sentence of section 613(b) of this title shall be eligible for the 
same medical services as a veteran.''
    Par. (6)(B)(ii). Pub. L. 99-272, Sec. 19011(d)(2)(B), substituted 
``section 612(f)(1)(A)(ii)'' for ``section 612(f)(1)(B)''.
    Par. (9). Pub. L. 99-272, Sec. 19012(a)(2), added par. (9).
    1985--Par. (4)(C)(v). Pub. L. 99-166, Sec. 102(a), substituted 
``with respect to the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico shall expire on 
September 30, 1988'' for ``(except with respect to Alaska and Hawaii) 
shall expire on October 31, 1985'' and struck out ``and to the Virgin 
Islands'' before ``of the restrictions in this subclause''.
    Pub. L. 99-108 substituted ``October 31, 1985'' for ``September 30, 
1985''.
    1984--Par. (4)(C)(v). Pub. L. 98-528 substituted ``September 30, 
1985'' for ``September 30, 1984''.
    1983--Par. (4)(C)(v). Pub. L. 98-105 substituted ``September 30, 
1984'' for ``September 30, 1983''.
    Par. (6)(a)(i). Pub. L. 98-160 inserted ``(in the case of a person 
otherwise receiving care or services under this chapter) preventive 
health-care services as defined in section 662 of this title,''.
    1982--Par. (4)(C)(v). Pub. L. 97-251 substituted ``September 30, 
1983'' for ``September 30, 1982''.
    1981--Par. (4)(C)(v). Pub. L. 97-72 substituted ``September 30, 
1982'' for ``December 31, 1981''.
    1979--Par. (4). Pub. L. 96-22, Secs. 102(c)(1), 201(a), substituted 
``medical services for the treatment of any disability of a veteran 
described in clause (1)(B) or (2) of the first sentence, or the third 
sentence, of section 612(f) of this title or of a veteran described in 
section 612(g) of this title if the Administrator has determined, based 
on an examination by a physician employed by the Veterans' 
Administration (or, in areas where no such physician is available, by a 
physician carrying out such function under a contract or fee 
arrangement), that the medical condition of such veteran precludes 
appropriate treatment in facilities described in clauses (A) and (B) of 
this paragraph'' for ``medical services for the treatment of any 
disability of a veteran described in clause (1)(B) or (2) of section 
612(f) of this title'' in subcl. (ii) of cl. (C), and added subcl. (vi) 
of cl. (C) and the provisions following cl. (C) relating to the periodic 
review of the necessity for continuing contractual arrangements in the 
case of veterans receiving contract care.
    Par. (4)(C)(iii). Pub. L. 96-151, Sec. 202, inserted provisions 
respecting safe transfer of the veteran, and substituted ``medical 
services in'' for ``hospital care in''.
    Par. (5)(A). Pub. L. 96-151, Sec. 201(b)(1), substituted ``travel'' 
for ``transportation''.
    Par. (5)(C). Pub. L. 96-151, Sec. 201(b)(2), substituted provisions 
relating to travel and incidental expenses for provisions relating to 
transportation and incidental expenses.
    Par. (6)(A)(i). Pub. L. 96-22, Sec. 102(c)(2), substituted 
``described in sections 610 and 612 of this title'' for ``authorized in 
sections 612 (b), (c), (d), and (e) of this title''.
    Par. (6)(B). Pub. L. 96-151, Sec. 201(b)(3), substituted ``travel 
and incidental expenses'' for ``necessary expenses of travel and 
subsistence''.
    1978--Par. (4)(C)(v). Pub. L. 95-520 defined ``Veterans' 
Administration facilities'' to include certain private facilities to 
provide medical services to obviate the need for hospital admission, 
deleted reference to hospital care for veterans in a territory, 
Commonwealth, or possession of the United States not contiguous to the 
forty-eight contiguous States, substituted provision requiring the 
annually determined hospital patient load and incidence of the provision 
of medical services to veterans hospitalized or treated at expense of 
Veterans' Administration in Government and private facilities in each 
noncontiguous State to be consistent with patient load or incidence of 
the provision of medical services for veterans hospitalized or treated 
by the Veterans' Administration within the forty-eight contiguous States 
for prior requirement that the annually determined average hospital 
patient load per thousand veteran population hospitalized at Veterans' 
Administration expense in Government and private facilities in each 
noncontiguous State not exceed the average patient load per thousand 
veteran population hospitalized by the Veterans' Administration within 
the forty-eight contiguous States; extended termination date for 
exercise of subcl. (v) authority to Dec. 31, 1981, from Dec. 31, 1978, 
except as to Alaska and Hawaii, and authorized waiver by the 
Administrator, to prevent hardship, of applicability to Puerto Rico and 
Virgin Islands of subcl. (v) restrictions with respect to hospital 
patient loads and incidence of provision of medical services.
    1976--Par. (4)(A). Pub. L. 94-581, Sec. 202(b)(1), substituted 
``direct jurisdiction'' for ``direct and exclusive jurisdiction''.
    Par. (4)(C). Pub. L. 94-581, Sec. 202(b)(2), inserted ``when 
facilities described in clause (A) or (B) of this paragraph are not 
capable of furnishing economical care because of geographical 
inaccessibility or of furnishing the care or services required'' after 
``contracts'' in provisions preceding subcl. (i), substituted ``to a 
veteran for the treatment of a service-connected disability or a 
disability for which a veteran was discharged'' for ``for persons 
suffering from service-connected disabilities or from disabilities for 
which such persons were discharged'' in subcl. (i), added subcls. (ii) 
and (iii), redesignated former subcls. (ii) and (iii) as (iv) and (v), 
respectively, and in subcl. (v) as so redesignated, substituted 
``subclause (v)'' for ``clause (iii)''.
    Par. (5)(A)(ii). Pub. L. 94-581, Sec. 202(b)(3), substituted 
``pursuant to the provisions of section 111 of this title'' for ``for 
any veteran who is in need of treatment for a service-connected 
disability or who is unable to defray the expense of transportation''.
    Par. (5)(B). Pub. L. 94-581, Sec. 102(1), substituted ``for the 
members of the immediate family or legal guardian of a veteran, or the 
individual in whose household such veteran certifies an intention to 
live, as may be essential to the effective treatment and rehabilitation 
of a veteran or dependent or survivor of a veteran receiving care under 
the last sentence of section 613(b) of this title; and'' for 
``(including (i) necessary expenses for transportation if unable to 
defray such expenses; or (ii) necessary expenses of transportation and 
subsistence in the case of a veteran who is receiving care for a 
service-connected disability, or in the case of a dependent or survivor 
of a veteran receiving care under the last sentence of section 613(b) of 
this title, under the terms and conditions set forth in section 111 of 
this title) of the members of the immediate family (including legal 
guardians) of a veteran or such a dependent or survivor of a veteran, or 
in the case of a veteran or such dependent or survivor of a veteran who 
has no immediate family members (or legal guardian), the person in whose 
household such veteran, or such a dependent or survivor certifies his 
intention to live, as may be necessary or appropriate to the effective 
treatment and rehabilitation of a veteran or such a dependent or a 
survivor of a veteran; and''.
    Par. (6). Pub. L. 94-581, Sec. 102(2), expanded definition of 
``medical services'' to include rehabilitation services, podiatric 
services, and travel and incidental expenses pursuant to the provisions 
of section 111 of this title, and, for the members of the immediate 
family or legal guardian of a veteran, or the individual in whose 
household such veteran certifies an intention to live, as may be 
essential to the effective treatment and rehabilitation of the veteran, 
such consultation, professional counseling, training, and mental health 
services as are necessary in connection with the treatment of the 
service-connected disability of a veteran pursuant to section 612(a) of 
this title, and, in the discretion of the Administrator, of the non-
service-connected disability of a veteran eligible for treatment under 
section 612(f)(1)(B) of this title where such services were initiated 
during the veteran's hospitalization and the provision of such services 
on an outpatient basis is essential to permit the discharge of the 
veteran from the hospital.
    Par. (7). Pub. L. 94-581, Sec. 102(3), substituted ``necessary 
medical services and travel and incidental expenses pursuant to the 
provisions of section 111 of this title'' for ``transportation and 
incidental expenses for veterans who are unable to defray the expenses 
of transportation''.
    Par. (8). Pub. L. 94-581, Sec. 102(4), added par. (8).
    1973--Par. (4)(C). Pub. L. 93-82, Sec. 101(a), extended the 
Administrator's contract authority for providing hospital care and 
medical services to persons suffering from service-connected 
disabilities or from disabilities for which such persons were discharged 
or released from the active military, naval, or air service and removed 
the limitation on such authority that such care be rendered in emergency 
cases only.
    Par. (5). Pub. L. 93-82, Sec. 101(b), incorporated existing 
provisions in subpar. (A) and added subpars. (B) and (C).
    Par. (6). Pub. L. 93-82, Sec. 101(c), expanded definition of 
``medical services'' to include home health services determined by the 
Secretary to be necessary or appropriate for the effective and 
economical treatment of a disability of a veteran or a dependent or 
survivor of a veteran receiving care under section 613(b) of this title.
    1968--Par. (4)(C)(iii). Pub. L. 90-612 expanded category of veterans 
of wars in the Territories, Commonwealths, or possessions of the United 
States to include, until December 31, 1978, veterans of such wars in 
States not contiguous to the forty-eight contiguous States, with the 
annually determined average hospital patient load per thousand of 
hospitalized veteran population in each such noncontiguous States not to 
exceed the average within the forty-eight contiguous States.
    1964--Par. (2). Pub. L. 88-481 included any veteran awarded the 
Medal of Honor.
    1960--Par. (6). Pub. L. 86-639 inserted ``(except under the 
conditions described in section 612(f)(1))''.
    Pub. L. 86-598 inserted ``optometrists' services'' after ``medical 
examination and treatment''.


                    Effective Date of 1994 Amendment

    Section 1202(b) of Pub. L. 103-446 provided that the amendment made 
by that section is effective Aug. 6, 1991, and as if included in the 
enactment of Pub. L. 102-83.


                    Effective Date of 1986 Amendment

    Amendment by section 19011(d)(2) of Pub. L. 99-272 applicable to 
hospital care, nursing home care, and medical services furnished on or 
after July 1, 1986, see section 19011(f) of Pub. L. 99-272, set out as a 
note under section 1710 of this title.


                    Effective Date of 1979 Amendments

    Amendment by Pub. L. 96-151 effective Jan. 1, 1980, see section 206 
of Pub. L. 96-151, set out as a note under section 111 of this title.
    Section 107 of Pub. L. 96-22 provided that: ``The amendments made to 
title 38, United States Code, by sections 102, 103, 104, 105, and 106 of 
this Act [see Tables for classification] shall be effective on October 
1, 1979.''


                    Effective Date of 1976 Amendment

    Amendment by Pub. L. 94-581 effective Oct. 21, 1976, see section 211 
of Pub. L. 94-581, set out as a note under section 111 of this title.


                    Effective Date of 1973 Amendment

    Section 501 of Pub. L. 93-82 provided that: ``The provisions of this 
Act [see Tables for classification] shall become effective the first day 
of the first calendar month following the date of enactment [Aug. 2, 
1973], except that sections 105 and 106 [amending section 626 [now 1726] 
of this title and enacting section 628 [now 1728] of this title] shall 
be effective on January 1, 1971; section 107 [enacting sections 631 and 
632 [now 1731 and 1732] of this title and provisions set out as note 
under section 1732 of this title] shall be effective July 1, 1973; and 
section 203 [amending former section 4107 of this title] shall become 
effective beginning the first pay period following thirty days after the 
date of enactment of this Act [Aug. 2, 1973].''


        Guidelines Relating to Furnishing of Sensori-Neural Aids

    Section 103(b) of Pub. L. 104-262 provided that: ``Not later than 30 
days after the date of the enactment of this Act [Oct. 9, 1996], the 
Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall prescribe the guidelines required by 
the amendments made by subsection (a) [amending this section] and shall 
furnish a copy of those guidelines to the Committees on Veterans' 
Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives.''


  Study of Feasibility and Advisibility of Alternative Organizational 
 Structures for Effective Provision of Health Care Services to Veterans

    Section 1104 of Pub. L. 103-446 directed Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs to submit to Congress, not later than one year after Nov. 2, 
1994, report and study on feasibility and advisability of alternative 
organizational structures, such as the establishment of a wholly-owned 
Government corporation or a Government-sponsored enterprise, for the 
effective provision of health care services to veterans.


    Contract Health Care; Ratification of Action of Administrator of 
                            Veterans' Affairs

    Section 103(b) of Pub. L. 98-528 ratified actions by Administrator 
of Veterans' Affairs in entering into contracts applicable to the period 
beginning Oct. 1, 1984, and ending Oct. 19, 1984, for care described in 
par. (4)(C)(v) of this section and in making waivers described in that 
provision.


    Administration Capability To Provide Appropriate Care for Gender-
                 Specific Disabilities of Women Veterans

    Section 302 of Pub. L. 98-160, as amended by Pub. L. 102-40, title 
IV, Sec. 402(d)(2), May 7, 1991, 105 Stat. 239; Pub. L. 102-83, 
Secs. 5(c)(2), 6(f), Aug. 6, 1991, 105 Stat. 406, 407, provided that: 
``The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall ensure that each health-care 
facility under the direct jurisdiction of the Secretary is able, through 
services made available either by individuals appointed to positions in 
the Veterans Health Administration or under contracts or other 
agreements made under section 4117 [see 7409], 8111, or 8153 of title 
38, United States Code, to provide appropriate care, in a timely 
fashion, for any gender-specific disability (as defined in section 
1701(1) of such title) of a woman veteran eligible for such care under 
chapter 17 or chapter 31 of such title.''


        Annual Report to Congress Covering Contract-Care Programs

    Section 201(b) of Pub. L. 96-22, which directed Chief Medical 
Director of the Veterans' Administration to report to appropriate 
committees of Congress, not later than Feb. 1, 1980, and annually 
thereafter, on implementation of former par. (4)(C)(v) of this section 
and amendments made to this section by section 201 of Pub. L. 96-22, and 
on numbers of veterans provided contract treatment (and average cost and 
duration thereof) in each State in certain enumerated categories, was 
repealed by Pub. L. 100-322, title I, Sec. 112(b), May 20, 1988, 102 
Stat. 499.


Hospital Care and Medical Services Furnished by Veterans' Administration 
   in Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands; Report to President and Congress

    Section 8 of Pub. L. 95-520, as amended by Pub. L. 96-330, title IV, 
Sec. 407, Aug. 26, 1980, 94 Stat. 1053, directed Administrator of 
Veterans' Affairs, not later than Feb. 1, 1981, to submit a report to 
President and Congress on furnishing by Administration of hospital care 
and medical services in Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands, and set forth 
applicable criteria and considerations for the report.

                  Section Referred to in Other Sections

    This section is referred to in sections 1151, 1710B, 1712A, 2303, 
7318, 7362, 8111, 8111A, 8152 of this title.
