§ 1680f. — Indian Health Service and Department of Veterans Affairs health facilities and services sharing.
[Laws in effect as of January 24, 2002]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 24, 2002 and December 19, 2002]
[CITE: 25USC1680f]
TITLE 25--INDIANS
CHAPTER 18--INDIAN HEALTH CARE
SUBCHAPTER VI--MISCELLANEOUS
Sec. 1680f. Indian Health Service and Department of Veterans
Affairs health facilities and services sharing
(a) Feasibility study and report
The Secretary shall examine the feasibility of entering into an
arrangement for the sharing of medical facilities and services between
the Indian Health Service and the Department of Veterans Affairs and
shall, in accordance with subsection (b) of this section, prepare a
report on the feasibility of such an arrangement and submit such report
to the Congress by no later than September 30, 1990.
(b) Nonimpairment of service quality, eligibility, or priority of access
The Secretary shall not take any action under this section or under
subchapter IV of chapter 81 of title 38 which would impair--
(1) the priority access of any Indian to health care services
provided through the Indian Health Service;
(2) the quality of health care services provided to any Indian
through the Indian Health Service;
(3) the priority access of any veteran to health care services
provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs;
(4) the quality of health care services provided to any veteran
by the Department of Veterans Affairs;
(5) the eligibility of any Indian to receive health services
through the Indian Health Service; or
(6) the eligibility of any Indian who is a veteran to receive
health services through the Department of Veterans Affairs.
(c) Cross utilization of services
(1) Not later than December 23, 1988, the Director of the Indian
Health Service and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall implement an
agreement under which--
(A) individuals in the vicinity of Roosevelt, Utah, who are
eligible for health care from the Department of Veterans Affairs
could obtain health care services at the facilities of the Indian
Health Service located at Fort Duchesne, Utah; and
(B) individuals eligible for health care from the Indian Health
Service at Fort Duchesne, Utah, could obtain health care services at
the Department of Veterans Affairs medical center located in Salt
Lake City, Utah.
(2) Not later than November 23, 1990, the Secretary and the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall jointly submit a report to the
Congress on the health care services provided as a result of paragraph
(1).
(d) Right to health services
Nothing in this section may be construed as creating any right of a
veteran to obtain health services from the Indian Health Service except
as provided in an agreement under subsection (c) of this section.
(Pub. L. 94-437, title VIII, Sec. 816, formerly title VII, Sec. 716, as
added Pub. L. 100-713, title VII, Sec. 710, Nov. 23, 1988, 102 Stat.
4832; amended Pub. L. 102-54, Sec. 13(j)(2), June 13, 1991, 105 Stat.
276; renumbered title VIII, Sec. 816, and amended Pub. L. 102-573, title
VII, Sec. 701(a), (b), title IX, Sec. 902(9), Oct. 29, 1992, 106 Stat.
4572, 4592.)
Amendments
1992--Pub. L. 102-573, Sec. 902(9), amended section catchline.
1991--Subsecs. (a), (b)(3), (4), (6). Pub. L. 102-54,
Sec. 13(j)(2)(A), substituted ``Department of Veterans Affairs'' for
``Veterans' Administration''.
Subsec. (c)(1). Pub. L. 102-54, Sec. 13(j)(2)(B), substituted ``Not
later than December 23, 1988, the Director of the Indian Health Service
and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall'' for ``Within 30 days after
November 23, 1988, the Director of the Indian Health Service and the
Administrator of Veterans' Affairs are authorized and directed to''.
Subsec. (c)(1)(A), (B). Pub. L. 102-54, Sec. 13(j)(2)(A),
substituted ``Department of Veterans Affairs'' for ``Veterans'
Administration''.
Subsec. (c)(2). Pub. L. 102-54, Sec. 13(j)(2)(C), substituted ``Not
later than November 23, 1990, the Secretary and the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs shall'' for ``Not later than 2 years after November 23,
1988, the Secretary and the Administrator of Veterans' Affairs shall''.
