Plain Language Summary
# RELIEVE Act Summary The RELIEVE Act would make it easier for newly enrolled veterans to get VA coverage for emergency medical care at non-VA hospitals. Currently, the VA only reimburses emergency treatment at private facilities if the veteran has received VA care within the previous 24 months. This bill would waive that 24-month requirement for veterans who are newly enrolled in the VA health care system, allowing them to receive reimbursement for emergency treatment within 60 days of enrollment.
This primarily affects veterans who have recently signed up for VA health benefits but haven't yet established a treatment history with the VA. The bill addresses a practical gap where newly enrolled veterans could face unexpected bills for emergency care before they've had time to use VA services. By removing this waiting period for new enrollees, the bill aims to ensure veterans can access emergency care without financial barriers during their critical first months in the VA system. The legislation is currently in committee and has not yet been voted on by the full House.
CRS Official Summary
Removing Extraneous Loopholes Insuring Every Veteran Emergency Act or the RELIEVE Act This bill expands eligibility for Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) reimbursement of emergency treatment for veterans who are treated in a non-VA facility. Specifically, the bill waives the requirement that a veteran must have received VA care within the 24-month period preceding the furnishing of emergency treatment if the veteran receives such emergency treatment within the 60-day period following their enrollment in the VA health care system.
Latest Action
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.