
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
[wais.access.gpo.gov]
[Laws in effect as of January 23, 2000]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 23, 2000 and December 4, 2001]
[CITE: 38USC1803]

 
                      TITLE 38--VETERANS' BENEFITS
 
                        PART II--GENERAL BENEFITS
 
CHAPTER 18--BENEFITS FOR CHILDREN OF VIETNAM VETERANS WHO ARE BORN WITH 
                              SPINA BIFIDA
 
Sec. 1803. Health care

    (a) In accordance with regulations which the Secretary shall 
prescribe, the Secretary shall provide a child of a Vietnam veteran who 
is suffering from spina bifida with such health care as the Secretary 
determines is needed by the child for the spina bifida or any disability 
that is associated with such condition.
    (b) The Secretary may provide health care under this section 
directly or by contract or other arrangement with any health care 
provider.
    (c) For the purposes of this section--
        (1) The term ``health care''--
            (A) means home care, hospital care, nursing home care, 
        outpatient care, preventive care, habilitative and 
        rehabilitative care, case management, and respite care; and
            (B) includes--
                (i) the training of appropriate members of a child's 
            family or household in the care of the child; and
                (ii) the provision of such pharmaceuticals, supplies, 
            equipment, devices, appliances, assistive technology, direct 
            transportation costs to and from approved sources of health 
            care, and other materials as the Secretary determines 
            necessary.

        (2) The term ``health care provider'' includes specialized spina 
    bifida clinics, health care plans, insurers, organizations, 
    institutions, and any other entity or individual furnishing health 
    care services that the Secretary determines are authorized under 
    this section.
        (3) The term ``home care'' means outpatient care, habilitative 
    and rehabilitative care, preventive health services, and health-
    related services furnished to an individual in the individual's home 
    or other place of residence.
        (4) The term ``hospital care'' means care and treatment for a 
    disability furnished to an individual who has been admitted to a 
    hospital as a patient.
        (5) The term ``nursing home care'' means care and treatment for 
    a disability furnished to an individual who has been admitted to a 
    nursing home as a resident.
        (6) The term ``outpatient care'' means care and treatment of a 
    disability, and preventive health services, furnished to an 
    individual other than hospital care or nursing home care.
        (7) The term ``preventive care'' means care and treatment 
    furnished to prevent disability or illness, including periodic 
    examinations, immunizations, patient health education, and such 
    other services as the Secretary determines necessary to provide 
    effective and economical preventive health care.
        (8) The term ``habilitative and rehabilitative care'' means such 
    professional, counseling, and guidance services and treatment 
    programs (other than vocational training under section 1804 of this 
    title) as are necessary to develop, maintain, or restore, to the 
    maximum extent practicable, the functioning of a disabled person.
        (9) The term ``respite care'' means care furnished on an 
    intermittent basis for a limited period to an individual who resides 
    primarily in a private residence when such care will help the 
    individual to continue residing in such private residence.

(Added Pub. L. 104-204, title IV, Sec. 421(b)(1), Sept. 26, 1996, 110 
Stat. 2923; amended Pub. L. 105-368, title X, Sec. 1005(b)(4), Nov. 11, 
1998, 112 Stat. 3365.)


                            Prior Provisions

    A prior section 1803 was renumbered section 3703 of this title.


                               Amendments

    1998--Subsec. (c)(2). Pub. L. 105-368 substituted ``furnishing 
health care services that the Secretary determines are authorized'' for 
``who furnishes health care that the Secretary determines authorized''.
