Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 110 Part 5.djvu/108

This page needs to be proofread.

110 STAT. 3182 PUBLIC LAW 104-262—OCT. 9, 1996 "(3) Hospital care, medical services, and nursing home care may not be provided under or by virtue of subsection (a)(2)(F)— "(A) in the case of care for a veteran described in paragraph (1)(A), after December 31, 2002; and "(B) in the case of care for a veteran described in paragraph (1)(C), after December 31, 1998. "(4) For purposes of this subsection— "(A) The term 'Vietnam-era herbicide-exposed veteran' means a veteran (i) who served on active duty in the Republic of Vietnam during the Vietnam era, and (ii) who the Secretary finds may have been exposed during such service to dioxin or was exposed during such service to a toxic substance found in a herbicide or defoliant used for military purposes during such era. "(B) The term 'radiation-exposed veteran' has the meaning given that term in section 1112(c)(3) of this title.". 38 USC 1710 (b) SAVINGS PROVISIONS. — The provisions of sections 1710(e) note. and 1712(a) of title 38, United States Code, as in effect on the day before the date of the enactment of this Act, shall continue to apply on and after such date with respect to the furnishing of hospital care, nursing home care, and medical services for any veteran who was furnished such care or services before such date of enactment on the basis of presumed exposure to a substance or radiation under the authority of those provisions, but only for treatment for a disability for which such care or services were furnished before such date. SEC. 103. PROSTHETICS AND PREVENTIVE CARE. (a) ELIGIBILITY.— Section 1701(6)(A)(i) is amended— (1) by striking out "(in the case of a person otherwise receiving care or services under this chapter)" and "(except under the conditions described in section 1712(a)(5)(A) of thas title),"; (2) by inserting "(in the case of a person otherwise receiving care or services under this chapter)" oefore "wheelchairs,"; and (3) by inserting "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,". 38 USC 1701 (b) REGULATIONS. — Not later than 30 days after the date of note. the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall prescribe the guidelines required by the amendments made by subsection (a) and shall furnish a copy of those guidelines to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives. SEC. 104. MANAGEMENT OF HEALTH CARE. (a) IN GENERAL.—(1) Chapter 17 is gimended by inserting after section 1704 the following new sections:

    • §1705. Management of health care: patient enrollment

system "(a) In managing the provision of hospital care and medical services under section 1710(a) of this title, the Secretary, in accordance with regulations the Secretary shall prescribe, shall establish and operate a system of annual patient enrollment. The Secretary shall manage the enrollment of veterans in accordance with the following priorities, in the order listed: