text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
  
      This Act may be cited as the ``Veterans Comprehensive Hepatitis C 
  Health Care Act''.
  
  SEC. 2. COMPREHENSIVE HEPATITIS C HEALTH CARE TESTING AND TREATMENT 
                PROGRAM FOR VETERANS.
  
      (a) In General.--(1) Chapter 17 of title 38, United States Code, is 
  amended by inserting after section 1720E the following new section:
  ``Sec. 1720F. Hepatitis C testing and treatment
      ``(a)(1) During the first year after the date of the enactment of 
  this section, the Secretary shall provide a blood test for the 
  Hepatitis C virus to--
              ``(A) each veteran who served in the active military, 
          naval, or air service during the Vietnam era and is enrolled to 
          receive care under section 1710 of this title who requests the 
          test or is otherwise receiving a physical examination or any 
          care or treatment from the Secretary; and
              ``(B) to any other veteran who requests the test.
      ``(2) After the end of the one-year period referred to in paragraph 
  (1), the Secretary shall provide a blood test for the Hepatitis C virus 
  to any veteran who presents one or more risk factors for that virus and 
  who requests the test.
      ``(b) In the case of any veteran who tests positive for the 
  Hepatitis C virus, the Secretary shall provide an appropriate treatment 
  protocol for that veteran. Treatment shall be provided under this 
  subsection without regard to whether the Hepatitis C virus is 
  determined to be service-connected and without regard to priority group 
  categorization of the veteran. No copayment may be charged for 
  treatment under this subsection.
      ``(c) In the case of any veteran who tests positive for the 
  Hepatitis C virus, the Secretary shall, upon request, perform a liver 
  biopsy on the veteran as a follow-up test.
      ``(d) In the case of any veteran who tests positive for the 
  Hepatitis C virus, the Secretary shall, upon request, provide a 
  Hepatitis C virus genotype test before beginning treatment of the 
  veteran under subsection (b).
      ``(e)(1) The Secretary shall require that each Department medical 
  center employ at least one full-time gastroenterologist or hepatologist 
  to conduct tests for the Hepatitis C virus under this section.
      ``(2) The Secretary shall, to the extent practicable, ensure that 
  each Department medical center has at least one staff member assigned 
  to work, in coordination with Hepatitis C medical personnel, to 
  coordinate treatment options for Hepatitis C patients and provide 
  information for those patients. Such a staff member should preferably 
  be trained in psychology or psychiatry or be a social worker.
      ``(3) In order to improve treatment provided to veterans with the 
  Hepatitis C virus, the Secretary shall provide increased training 
  options to Department health care personnel.''.
      (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of 
  such chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 
  1720E the following new item:
  
  ``1720F. Hepatitis C testing and treatment.''.
  
  SEC. 3. FUNDING FOR HEPATITIS C PROGRAMS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS 
                AFFAIRS.
  
      (a) Program Account.--Beginning with fiscal year 2001, amounts 
  appropriated for the Department of Veterans Affairs for Hepatitis C 
  detection and treatment shall be provided, within the ``Medical Care'' 
  account, through the ``Specific Purpose'' subaccount, rather than the 
  ``VERA'' subaccount.
      (b) Allocation of Funds to VISNs.--In allocating funds appropriated 
  for the Department of Veterans Affairs for the ``Medical Care'' account 
  to the Veterans Integrated Service Networks, the Secretary of Veterans 
  Affairs shall allocate funds for detection and treatment of the 
  Hepatitis C virus based upon incidence rates of that virus among 
  veterans (rather than based upon the overall population of veterans) in 
  each such network.
      (c) Limitation on Use of Funds.--Amounts appropriated for the 
  Department of Veterans Affairs for Hepatitis C detection and treatment 
  through the ``Specific Purpose'' subaccount may not be used for any 
  other purpose.
  
  SEC. 4. NATIONAL POLICY.
  
      (a) Standardized Nationwide Policy.--The Secretary of Veterans 
  Affairs shall develop and implement a standardized policy to be applied 
  throughout the Department of Veterans Affairs health care system with 
  respect to the Hepatitis C virus. The policy shall include the testing 
  protocol for the Hepatitis C virus, treatment options, education and 
  notification efforts, and establishment of a specific Hepatitis C 
  diagnosis code for measurement and treatment purposes.
      (b) Outreach.--The Secretary shall, on an annual basis, take 
  appropriate actions to notify veterans who have not been tested for the 
  Hepatitis C virus of the need for such testing and the availability of 
  such testing from the Department of Veterans Affairs.
  
  SEC. 5. HEPATITIS C CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE.
  
      (a) Establishment.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
  establish at least one, and not more than three, Hepatitis C centers of 
  excellence. Each such center shall be established at a Department of 
  Veterans Affairs medical center in one of the five geographic service 
  areas (known as a Veterans Integrated Service Network) with the highest 
  case rate of Hepatitis C in fiscal year 1999.
      (b) Funding.--Funding for the centers established under subsection 
  (a) shall be provided from amounts available to the Central Office of 
  the Department of Veterans Affairs and shall be in addition to amounts 
  allocated for Hepatitis C pursuant to section 3.
target: Provides funding for Department Hepatitis C detection and treatment programs, beginning with FY 2001.
  Directs the Secretary to: (1) develop and implement a standardized Department policy with respect to such virus; and (2) annually take appropriate outreach actions to notify untested veterans.
  Directs the Secretary to establish at least one and no more than three Hepatitis C centers of excellence within the Department health care network. Provides centers' funding.
feat_title: Veterans Comprehensive Hepatitis C Health Care Act