S-2193 : Still Just a Bill

Caring for our Veterans Act of 2017

This bill establishes a Veterans Community Care Program to furnish hospital care, medical services, and extended care services to covered veterans through non-Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care providers under specified circumstances. This program replaces the Veterans Choice Program.

The VA shall develop: (1) an education program for veterans about their VA health care options, (2) processes to ensure safe opioid prescribing practices by non-VA health care providers; and (3) criteria to designate VA medical centers, ambulatory care facilities, and community based outpatient clinics as underserved facilities.

The bill: (1) modifies the definitions of medical facility, major medical facility project, and major medical facility lease; and (2) establishes specified pilot programs.

The VA family caregiver program is expanded.

The VA shall implement a new information technology system.

Action Timeline

Action DateTypeTextSource
2018-03-07FloorBy Senator Isakson from Committee on Veterans' Affairs filed written report. Report No. 115-212.Senate
2017-12-05CalendarsPlaced on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 273.Senate
2017-12-05CommitteeCommittee on Veterans' Affairs. Original measure reported to Senate by Senator Isakson. Without written report.Senate
2017-12-05IntroReferralIntroduced in SenateLibrary of Congress

Sponsor :

Johnny Isakson [R] (GA)
See Cosponsors

Policy Area :

Armed Forces and National Security
See Subjects
  • Appropriations
  • Computers and information technology
  • Congressional oversight
  • Dental care
  • Disability and paralysis
  • Drug trafficking and controlled substances
  • Drug, alcohol, tobacco use
  • Employee hiring
  • Executive agency funding and structure
  • Federal officials
  • Government buildings, facilities, and property
  • Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
  • Government information and archives
  • Government lending and loan guarantees
  • Government studies and investigations
  • Health care costs and insurance
  • Health care coverage and access
  • Health care quality
  • Health facilities and institutions
  • Health information and medical records
  • Health personnel
  • Health programs administration and funding
  • Health promotion and preventive care
  • Health technology, devices, supplies
  • Higher education
  • Home and outpatient care
  • Hospital care
  • Licensing and registrations
  • Medicaid
  • Medical education
  • Medical research
  • Medicare
  • Mental health
  • Military medicine
  • Nursing
  • Organ and tissue donation and transplantation
  • Performance measurement
  • Prescription drugs
  • Public contracts and procurement
  • Public-private cooperation
  • Rural conditions and development
  • Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations
  • Student aid and college costs
  • Surgery and anesthesia
  • User charges and fees
  • Veterans' loans, housing, homeless programs
  • Veterans' medical care
  • Veterans' pensions and compensation
  • Women's health
  • Employee performance
  • Department of Veterans Affairs