text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
  
      This Act may be cited as the ``Military Sexual Assault Victims 
  Empowerment Act'' or the ``Military SAVE Act''.
  
  SEC. 2. PILOT PROGRAM FOR PRIVATE HEALTH CARE FOR VETERANS WHO ARE 
                SURVIVORS OF MILITARY SEXUAL TRAUMA.
  
      (a) Establishment.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall carry 
  out a pilot program to furnish hospital care and medical services to 
  eligible veterans through non-Department health care providers to treat 
  injuries or illnesses which, in the judgment of a professional employed 
  by the Department, resulted from a physical assault of a sexual nature, 
  battery of a sexual nature, or sexual harassment which occurred while 
  the veteran was serving on active duty, active duty for training, or 
  inactive duty training.
      (b) Duration.--The Secretary shall carry out the pilot program 
  under subsection (a) for a 3-year period. If at the completion of the 
  pilot program an eligible veteran is receiving hospital care and 
  medical services from a non-Department health care provider under the 
  pilot program, the Secretary may approve, on a case-by-case basis, the 
  continuation of such hospital care and medical services from that non-
  Department health care provider until the completion of the episode of 
  care.
      (c) Eligible Veterans.--A veteran is eligible to participate in the 
  pilot program under subsection (a) if the veteran--
              (1) is eligible to receive counseling and appropriate care 
          and services under section 1720D of title 38, United States 
          Code; and
              (2) resides in a site selected under subsection (d).
      (d) Sites.--
              (1) Selection.--The Secretary shall select not more than 
          five sites in which to carry out the pilot program under 
          subsection (a). Each site shall meet each of the following 
          criteria:
                      (A) Except as provided by paragraph (2), the site 
                  consists of a city with a population between 200,000 
                  and 500,000, as determined by the Bureau of the Census 
                  as of the first day of the pilot program.
                      (B) The site is in a State in which the National 
                  Violence Against Women Prevention Research Center or 
                  the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or 
                  both, has determined the rate of sexual assault to be a 
                  substantial problem.
                      (C) The site is in a State that, as of the first 
                  day of the pilot program, has a weighted percentage of 
                  reported rape of not less than 20 percent but not more 
                  than 30 percent of sexual assault cases, in accordance 
                  with the finding of the Centers for Disease Control and 
                  Prevention contained in the ```Lifetime Prevalence of 
                  Sexual Violence by any Perpetrator'' (NISVS 2010).
              (2) Rural site.--Not fewer than one site selected under 
          paragraph (1) shall be rural, as determined by the Secretary.
      (e) Participation.--
              (1) Election.--Subject to paragraph (2), an eligible 
          veteran may elect to participate in the pilot program under 
          subsection (a). Such election shall not affect the ability of 
          the veteran to receive health care furnished by Department 
          providers.
              (2) Number.--Not more than 75 veterans may participate in 
          the pilot program under subsection (a) at each site selected 
          under subsection (d).
              (3) Choice of non-department health care providers.--An 
          eligible veteran who participates in the pilot program under 
          subsection (a) may freely choose from which non-Department 
          health care provider the veteran receives hospital care or 
          medical services under the pilot program, except that the 
          Secretary shall--
                      (A) ensure that each such non-Department health 
                  care provider maintains at least the same or similar 
                  credentials and licenses as those credentials and 
                  licenses that are required of health care providers of 
                  the Department, as determined by the Secretary for the 
                  purposes of this section; and
                      (B) make a reasonable effort to ensure that such 
                  non-Department health care provider is familiar with 
                  the conditions and concerns that affect members of the 
                  Armed Forces and veterans and is trained in evidence-
                  based psychotherapy.
              (4) Provision of information.--The Secretary shall--
                      (A) notify eligible veterans of the ability to make 
                  an election under paragraph (1); and
                      (B) provide to such veterans educational referral 
                  materials, including through pamphlets and internet 
                  websites, on the non-Department providers in the sites 
                  selected under subsection (d).
      (f) Authorization and Monitoring of Care.--In accordance with 
  subsection (e), the Secretary shall ensure that the Department of 
  Veterans Affairs authorizes and monitors the hospital care and medical 
  services furnished under the pilot program for appropriateness and 
  necessity. In authorizing and monitoring such care, the Secretary 
  shall--
              (1) treat a non-Department health care provider that 
          furnishes to such a veteran hospital care or medical services 
          under the pilot program as an authorized recipient of records 
          of such veteran for purposes of section 7332(b) of title 38, 
          United States Code; and
              (2) ensure that such non-Department health care provider 
          transmits to the Department such records as the Secretary 
          determines appropriate.
      (g) Payments.--
              (1) Current providers.--If a non-Department health care 
          provider has entered into a contract, agreement, or other 
          arrangement with the Secretary pursuant to another provision of 
          law to furnish hospital care or medical services to veterans, 
          the Secretary shall pay the health care provider for hospital 
          care or medical services furnished under this section using the 
          same rates and payment schedules as provided for in such 
          contract, agreement, or other arrangement.
              (2) New providers.--If a non-Department health care 
          provider has not entered into a contract, agreement, or other 
          arrangement with the Secretary pursuant to another provision of 
          law to furnish hospital care or medical services to veterans, 
          the Secretary shall pay the health care provider for hospital 
          care or medical services furnished under this section using the 
          same rates and payment schedule as if such care and services 
          was furnished pursuant to section 1703 of title 38, United 
          States Code.
              (3) New contracts and agreements.--The Secretary shall take 
          reasonable efforts to enter into a contract, agreement, or 
          other arrangement with a non-Department health care provider 
          described in subsection (a) to ensure that future care and 
          services authorized by the Secretary and furnished by the 
          provider are subject to such a contract, agreement, or other 
          arrangement.
      (h) Surveys.--The Secretary shall conduct a survey of a sample of 
  eligible veterans to assess the hospital care and medical services 
  furnished to such veterans either pursuant to this section or section 
  1720D of title 38, United States Code, as the case may be.
      (i) Report.--Not later than 60 days before the completion of the 
  pilot program under subsection (a), the Secretary shall submit to the 
  Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives and the 
  Senate a report on the pilot program. The report shall include the 
  following:
              (1) The results of the pilot program, including, to the 
          extent possible, an assessment of the health outcomes of 
          veterans who participated in the pilot program.
              (2) The recommendation of the Secretary with respect to 
          extending or making permanent the pilot program.
      (j) Definitions.--In this section:
              (1) The term ``non-Department health care provider'' means 
          an entity specified in section 101(a)(1)(B) of section 101 of 
          the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2015 
          (Public Law 113-146; 38 U.S.C. 1701) or any other health care 
          provider that has entered into a contract, agreement, or other 
          arrangement with the Secretary pursuant to another provision of 
          law to furnish hospital care or medical services to veterans.
              (2) The term ``sexual harassment'' has the meaning given 
          that term in section 1720D of title 38, United States Code.
              (3) The term ``State'' has the meaning given that term in 
          section 101(20) of title 38, United States Code.
  
  SEC. 3. NO ADDITIONAL FUNDS AUTHORIZED.
  
      No additional funds are authorized to be appropriated to carry out 
  the requirements of this Act. Such requirements shall be carried out 
  using amounts otherwise authorized to be appropriated.
  
              Passed the House of Representatives May 21, 2018.
  
              Attest:
  
                                                   KAREN L. HAAS,
  
                                                                   Clerk.
target: Military Sexual Assault Victims Empowerment Act or the Military SAVE Act  (Sec. 2) This bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to carry out a three-year pilot program of hospital care and medical services for eligible veterans at non-VA health care providers to treat injuries or illnesses resulting from sexual assault, battery, or harassment while the veteran was on active duty, active duty for training, or inactive duty training. Program participation shall not affect a veteran's ability to receive VA health care. An eligible veteran may elect to participate in the program and choose his or her provider as long as the provider meets VA requirements. The program shall be carried out at not more than five sites that meet criteria of city size and rates of sexual assault and rape. At least one site shall be a rural site and not more than 75 veterans may participate at any one site. The bill sets forth payment provisions for current and new non-VA providers.
feat_title: Military Sexual Assault Victims Empowerment Act