H.R. 9033

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 9033 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 9033

To amend title 38, United States Code, to enhance the sharing of 
health-care resources between the Department of Veterans Affairs and 
State Veterans Homes, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

May 26, 2026

Mrs. Miller-Meeks introduced the following bill; which was referred to 
the Committee on Veterans' Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To amend title 38, United States Code, to enhance the sharing of 
health-care resources between the Department of Veterans Affairs and 
State Veterans Homes, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Timely Agreements Act''.

SEC. 2. REQUIREMENTS FOR CERTAIN AGREEMENTS BETWEEN THE DEPARTMENT OF 
VETERANS AFFAIRS AND STATE VETERANS HOMES FOR THE SHARING 
OF HEALTH-CARE RESOURCES.

(a) Timely Decisions on Certain Proposals.--
(1) In general.--Chapter 81 of title 38, United States 
Code, is amended by inserting after section 8153 the following 
new section:
``Sec. 8153a. Sharing of health-care resources with State homes; timely 
decisions on certain proposals
``(a) In a case in which a State home submits to the Secretary a 
proposal for an agreement under section 8153 involving the purchase by 
the State home of pharmaceuticals or durable medical equipment, or 
both, the Secretary shall either approve or reject the proposal by the 
date (in this section referred to as the `decision date') that is 60 
calendar days after the date on which the proposal was received.
``(b) If such a proposal is not approved or rejected by the 
decision date, the proposal shall be deemed approved and given effect.
``(c) The rejection of such a proposal shall not preclude the State 
home from submitting, or the Secretary from negotiating or approving, 
subsequent proposals.
``(d) The Secretary shall enable State homes to submit such 
proposals by hand delivery, mail, facsimile, electronic mail, and any 
other mechanism the Secretary considers appropriate.
``(e) The Secretary shall establish and make available a standard 
template for such proposals.''.
(2) Clerical amendment.--The table of sections at the 
beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the 
item relating to section 8153 the following new item:

``8153a. Sharing of health-care resources with State homes; 
requirements for certain agreements.''.
(3) Implementation date.--The standard template required by 
section 8153a of title 38, United States Code, as added by this 
section, shall be established and made available not later than 
180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.
(b) Provision of Care Without an Agreement Not a Deficiency.--
Section 162 of the Joseph Maxwell Cleland and Robert Joseph Dole 
Memorial Veterans Benefits and Health Care Improvement Act of 2022 
(division U of Public Law 117-328; 136 Stat. 5430; 38 U.S.C. 1741 note) 
is amended--
(1) by redesignating subsection (d) as subsection (e); and
(2) by inserting after subsection (c) the following new 
subsection:
``(d) Provision of Care Without an Agreement Not a Deficiency.--
Notwithstanding section 1742 of title 38, United States Code, the 
Secretary shall ensure that, if a State home provides care to an 
eligible veteran when there is no applicable agreement in place with 
the Department under section 8153 of such title, the fact that no 
applicable agreement is in place shall not, in and of itself, be 
treated as an inspection violation or deficiency.''.
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