12 2 STA T .4 12 5PUBLIC LA W 11 0–387—O CT. 10 , 2008 (1)INGE NE RAL.—Forpu rpo se so fth ep il ot pro g r am u nd er this se c tion , aco v ered veteran is an y highly rural veteran w ho is— ( A ) enrolled in the system of patient enrollment esta b- lished under section 1 705 (a) of title 38 , U nited S tates C ode, as of the date of the commencement of the pilot program under subsection (a)( 2 )
or ( B ) eligible for health care under section 1710(e)(3)(C) of title 38, United States Code. (2) HI G H L Y R U RAL V E T ERAN S .—For purposes of this sub- section, a highly rural veteran is any veteran who— (A) resides in a location that is— (i) more than 6 0 miles driving distance from the nearest D epartment health care facility providing pri- mary care services, if the veteran is see k ing such serv- ices; (ii) more than 120 miles driving distance from the nearest Department health care facility providing acute hospital care, if the veteran is seeking such care; or (iii) more than 2 4 0 miles driving distance from the nearest Department health care facility providing tertiary care, if the veteran is seeking such care; or (B) in the case of a veteran who resides in a location less than the distance specified in clause (i), (ii), or (iii) of subparagraph (A), as applicable, e x periences such hard- ship or other difficulties in travel to the nearest appropriate Department health care facility that such travel is not in the best interest of the veteran, as determined by the Secretary pursuant to regulations prescribed for purposes of this subsection. (c) C O VERE D HEALTH SERVI C ES.—For purposes of the pilot pro- gram under this section, a covered health service with respect to a covered veteran is any hospital care, medical service, rehabilita- tive service, or preventative health service that is authori z ed to be provided by the Secretary to the veteran under chapter 17 of title 38, United States Code, or any other provision of law. (d) Q UALI F YING N ON-DE P ART M ENT HEALTH CARE P ROVIDERS.— For purposes of the pilot program under this section, an entity or individual is a q ualifying non-Department health care provider of a covered health service if the Secretary determines that the entity or individual is qualified to furnish such service to veterans under the pilot program. (e) E LECTION.—A covered veteran seeking to be provided cov- ered health services under the pilot program under this section shall submit to the Secretary an application therefor in such form, and containing such information as the Secretary shall specify for purposes of the pilot program. (f) PROVISION OF SERVICES T HROUGH CONTRACT.—The Secretary shall provide covered health services to veterans under the pilot program under this section through contracts with qualifying non- Department health care providers for the provision of such services. (g) E X CHANGE OF M EDICAL INFORMATION.—In conducting the pilot program under this section, the Secretary shall develop and utilize a functional capability to provide for the exchange of appro- priate medical information between the Department and non-
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