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S 1261 115th Congress Senate Armed Forces and National Security Department of Veterans Affairs Disability and paralysis Emergency medical services and trauma care Health care costs and insurance Health facilities and institutions Hospital care Public contracts and procurement Veterans' medical care

Veterans Emergency Room Relief Act of 2017

Introduced: May 25, 2017 Introduced by: Cassidy, Bill Republican · Louisiana See on congress.gov
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This bill died when the 115th Congress ended
It never became law before the 115th Congress (2017–2018) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jul 11, 2017
Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 115-320.
May 25, 2017
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
May 25, 2017
Introduced in Senate
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Veterans Emergency Room Relief Act of 2017

This bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to enter into contracts under which the VA pays health care providers the reasonable costs of urgent care provided to eligible veterans at non-VA facilities. An "eligible veteran" is one who: (1) is enrolled in the VA health care system, and (2) has received health care through the VA during the two years preceding the date on which the veteran receives urgent care.

The VA shall establish a cost-sharing amount that a veteran shall pay to the VA to receive such urgent care. Such amount shall not apply to a veteran who: (1) is admitted to a hospital for treatment or observation after receiving urgent care, or (2) is receiving urgent care for the treatment of a service-connected disability or condition.

The VA shall: (1) be considered the primary payer for the urgent care provided, and (2) ensure that all types of urgent care providers have an opportunity to enter into such a contract.

The VA also shall establish a cost-sharing amount that veterans shall pay to receive care at a VA emergency room. Such amount shall not apply to a veteran who: (1) is receiving care for a service-connected disability or condition, (2) meets a hardship exception, or (3) is admitted to a hospital for treatment or observation after receiving care at a VA emergency room.

The VA may not require a veteran to pay multiple cost-sharing amounts if the veteran seeks urgent care under this bill and care at a VA emergency room for the same condition during a period determined by the VA.

The VA shall report every two years on the use by veterans of urgent care facilities and of VA emergency room facilities.

What's happening now July 11, 2017

Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 115-320.

 Related & companion bills 1
  • HR 2785 Identical bill Veterans Emergency Room Relief Act of 2017
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 1261: Veterans Emergency Room Relief Act of 2017. 115th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/115-S-1261/
MLA
"S. 1261: Veterans Emergency Room Relief Act of 2017." 115th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/115-S-1261/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 1261, 115th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/115-S-1261/.
Markdown link
[S. 1261: Veterans Emergency Room Relief Act of 2017](https://openamerica.io/bill/115-S-1261/)
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