June 9, 2026
Mr. Alford (for himself, Mrs. Kim, and Mr. Neguse) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs
To amend title 38, United States Code, to reimburse veterans for the cost of emergency medical transportation to a Federal facility, and for other purposes.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the VA Emergency Transportation Act
.
Sec. 2. Reimbursement of emergency medical transportation to a Federal facility
(a) In general
Section 1725 of title 38, United States Code, is amended—
(1)
in the heading, by striking emergency treatment
and inserting emergency services
;
(2)
by striking the emergency treatment
each place it appears and inserting such emergency services
;
(3)
by striking such treatment
each place it appears and inserting such emergency services
;
(4)
by striking that treatment
each place it appears and inserting such emergency services
;
(5)
by striking the treatment
each place it appears and inserting such emergency services
;
(6)
by striking in a non-Department facility
each place it appears;
(7)
by striking same treatment
and inserting same emergency services
;
(8)
in subsection (a)(2)(A), by striking health care provider that furnished the treatment
and inserting provider that furnished such emergency services
;
(9)
in subsections (a) through (d), as amended by the preceding paragraphs, by striking emergency treatment
each place it appears and inserting emergency services
;
(10)
in subsection (b)(3)(B), by striking (h)(2)(B) or (h)(2)(C)
and inserting (h)(4)(B) or (h)(4)(C)
;
(11)
in subsection (f)—
(A)
by striking treatment provided
and inserting emergency services furnished
; and
(B)
by striking was provided
and inserting was furnished
;
(12)
in subsection (g), by striking for emergency treatment
and inserting for emergency services
; and
(13)
in subsection (h)—
(A)
by redesignating paragraph (1), (2), and (3) as paragraphs (3), (4), and (5), respectively;
(B)
in paragraph (3), as redesignated, insert in a non-Department facility
after services furnished
; and
(C)
by inserting before paragraph (3), as redesignated, the following new paragraphs (1) and (2):
(1)
The term
emergency servicesincludes emergency treatment and emergency transportation.(2)
The term
emergency transportationmeans transportation of a veteran by ambulance or air ambulance by a non-Department provider—(A)
to a facility for emergency treatment; or
(B)
from a non-Department facility where such veteran received emergency treatment—
(i)
to a Department or other Federal facility; and
(ii)
at a time described in paragraph (3)(C).
(b) Technical and conforming amendments
(1) Definition of emergency treatment
Section 1728(c) of such title is amended by striking 1725(h)(1)
and inserting 1725(h)
.
(2) Table of sections
The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 17 of such title is amended by striking emergency treatment
and inserting emergency services
.