(b) The Secretary may furnish hospital care or medical services ɩs a humanitarian service in emergency cases, but the Secretary hall charge for such care at rates prescribed by the Secretary.

(c)(1) The Secretary may contract with any organization named n, or approved by the Secretary under, section 5902 of this title o provide for the furnishing by the Secretary, on a reimbursable asis (as prescribed by the Secretary), of emergency medical servces to individuals attending any national convention of such orgaization, except that reimbursement shall not be required for servces furnished under this subsection to the extent that the individal receiving such services would otherwise be eligible under this hapter for medical services.

(2) The authority of the Secretary to enter into contracts under his subsection shall be effective for any fiscal year only to such exent or in such amounts as are provided in appropriation Acts. P.L. 85-857, Sept. 2, 1958, 72 Stat. 1142, §611; P.L. 94-581, ¡§ 202(e), 210(a)(2), Oct. 21, 1976, 90 Stat. 2856, 2862; P.L. 96–22, 202, June 13, 1979, 93 Stat. 54; P.L. 96-128, §501(a), Nov. 28, 1979, 93 Stat. 987; P.L. 102-40, §402(d)(1), May 7, 1991, 105 Stat. 239; renumbered § 1711 and amended P.L. 102-83, §§ 4(b)(1), 2)(E), 5(a), Aug. 6, 1991, 105 Stat. 404-406.)

1712. Dental care; care; drugs and medicines for certain disabled veterans; vaccines

(a)(1) Outpatient dental services and treatment, and related denal appliances, shall be furnished under this section only for a denal condition or disability

(A) which is service-connected and compensable in degree; (B) which is service-connected, but not compensable in degree, but only if

(i) the dental condition or disability is shown to have been in existence at the time of the veteran's discharge or release from active military, naval, or air service;

(ii) the veteran had served on active duty for a period of not less than 180 days or, in the case of a veteran who served on active duty during the Persian Gulf War, 90 days immediately before such discharge or release;

(iii) application for treatment is made within 90 days after such discharge or release, except that (I) in the case of a veteran who reentered active military, naval, or air service within 90 days after the date of such veteran's prior discharge or release from such service, application may be made within 90 days from the date of such veteran's subsequent discharge or release from such service, and (II) if a disqualifying discharge or release has been corrected by competent authority, application may be made within 90 days after the date of correction; and

(iv) the veteran's certificate of discharge or release from active duty does not bear a certification that the veteran was provided, within the 90-day period immediately before the date of such discharge or release, a complete dental examination (including dental X-rays) and all appropriate dental services and treatment indicated by the examination to be needed;

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(C) which is a service-connected dental condition or disabili due to combat wounds or other service trauma, or of a form prisoner of war;

(D) which is associated with and is aggravating a disabili resulting from some other disease or injury which was incurr in or aggravated by active military, naval, or air service;

(E) which is a non-service-connected condition or disability a veteran for which treatment was begun while such veter was receiving hospital care under this chapter and such se ices and treatment are reasonably necessary to complete su treatment;

(F) from which a veteran who is a former prisoner of w and who was detained or interned for a period of not less th 90 days is suffering;

(G) from which a veteran who has a service-connected d ability rated as total is suffering; or

(H) the treatment of which is medically necessary (i) in pr aration for hospital admission, or (ii) for a veteran otherw receiving care or services under this chapter.

(2) The Secretary concerned shall at the time a member of t Armed Forces is discharged or released from a period of active m tary, naval, or air service of not less than 180 days provide to st member a written explanation of the provisions of clause (B) paragraph (1) of this subsection and enter in the service records the member a statement signed by the member acknowledging ceipt of such explanation (or, if the member refuses to sign st statement, a certification from an officer designated for such p pose by the Secretary concerned that the member was provi such explanation).

(3) The total amount which the Secretary may expend for f nishing, during any twelve-month period, outpatient dental se ices, treatment, or related dental appliances to a veteran un this section through private facilities for which the Secretary contracted under clause (1), (2), or (5) of section 1503(a) of this t may not exceed $1,000 unless the Secretary determines, prior the furnishing of such services, treatment, or appliances and ba on an examination of the veteran by a dentist employed by the partment (or, in an area where no such dentist is available, b dentist conducting such examination under a contract or fee rangement), that the furnishing of such services, treatment, or pliances at such cost is reasonably necessary.

(4)(A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B) of this paragra in any year in which the President's Budget for the fiscal year ginning October 1 of such year includes an amount for exper tures for contract dental care under the provisions of subsection of this section (other than paragraphs (3)(B) and (3)(C) of that s section) and section 1503 of this title during such fiscal year in cess of the level of expenditures made for such purpose during cal year 1978, the Secretary shall, not later than February 1 such year, submit a report to the appropriate committees of Congress justifying the requested level of expenditures for conti dental care and explaining why the application of the criteria [ scribed in section 1503 of this title for contracting with private cilities and in the second sentence of section 1710(c) of this title

furnishing incidental dental care to hospitalized veterans will not preclude the need for expenditures for contract dental care in excess of the fiscal year 1978 level of expenditures for such purpose. In any case in which the amount included in the President's Budget for any fiscal year for expenditures for contract dental care under such provisions is not in excess of the level of expenditures made for such purpose during fiscal year 1978 and the Secretary determines after the date of submission of such budget and before the end of such fiscal year that the level of expenditures for such contract dental care during such fiscal year will exceed the fiscal year 1978 level of expenditures, the Secretary shall submit a report to the appropriate committees of the Congress containing both a justification (with respect to the projected level of expenditures for such fiscal year) and an explanation as required in the preceding sentence in the case of a report submitted pursuant to such sentence. Any report submitted pursuant to this paragraph shall include a comment by the Secretary on the effect of the application of the criteria prescribed in the second sentence of section 1710(c) of this title for furnishing incidental dental care to hospitalized vet

erans.

(B) A report under subparagraph (A) of this paragraph with respect to a fiscal year is not required if, in the documents submitted by the Secretary to the Congress in justification for the amounts included for Department programs in the President's Budget, the Secretary specifies with respect to contract dental care described in such subparagraph

(i) the actual level of expenditures for such care in the fiscal year preceding the fiscal year in which such Budget is submitted;

(ii) a current estimate of the level of expenditures for such care in the fiscal year in which such Budget is submitted; and (iii) the amount included in such Budget for such care. (b) Dental services and related appliances for a dental condition or disability described in paragraph (1)(B) of subsection (a) shall be furnished on a one-time completion basis, unless the services rendered on a one-time completion basis are found unacceptable within the limitations of good professional standards, in which event such additional services may be afforded as are required to complete professionally acceptable treatment.

(c) Dental appliances, wheelchairs, artificial limbs, trusses, special clothing, and similar appliances to be furnished by the Secretary under this section may be procured by the Secretary either by purchase or by manufacture, whichever the Secretary determines may be advantageous and reasonably necessary.

(d) The Secretary shall furnish to each veteran who is receiving additional compensation or allowance under chapter 11 of this title, or increased pension as a veteran of a period of war, by reason of being permanently housebound or in need of regular aid and attendance, such drugs and medicines as may be ordered on prescription of a duly licensed physician as specific therapy in the treatment of any illness or injury suffered by such veteran. The Secretary shall continue to furnish such drugs and medicines so ordered to any such veteran in need of regular aid and attendance whose pension payments have been discontinued solely because

such veteran's annual income is greater than the applicable maximum annual income limitation, but only so long as such veteran's annual income does not exceed such maximum annual income limitation by more than $1,000.

(e) In order to assist the Secretary of Health and Human Serv ices in carrying out national immunization programs under other provisions of law, the Secretary may authorize the administration of immunizations to eligible veterans who voluntarily request such immunizations in connection with the provision of care for a disability under this chapter in any Department health care facility Any such immunization shall be made using vaccine furnished by the Secretary of Health and Human Services at no cost to the De partment. For such purpose, notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary of Health and Human Services may provide such vaccine to the Department at no cost. Section 7316 of this title shall apply to claims alleging negligence or malpractice on the part of Department personnel granted immunity under such section. (P.L. 85-857, Sept. 2, 1958, 72 Stat. 1142, §612; P.L. 86–639, §1. July 12, 1960, 74 Stat. 472; P.L. 87-377, §1, Oct. 4, 1961, 75 Stat 806; P.L. 87-583, §2, Aug. 14, 1962, 76 Stat. 381; P.L. 88-430, Aug. 14, 1964, 78 Stat. 438; P.L. 88-450, §7, Aug. 19, 1964, 78 Stat. 504; P.L. 88-664, §8, Oct. 13, 1964, 78 Stat. 1096; P.L. 90– 77, §203(b), Aug. 31, 1967, 81 Stat. 183; P.L. 91-102, Oct. 30. 1969, 83 Stat. 168; P.L. 91-500, §§ 2, 3, Oct. 22, 1970, 84 Stat 1096; P.L. 91-588, §§ 4, 9(f), Dec. 24, 1970, 84 Stat. 1583, 1585; P.L. 93-82, §103(a), Aug. 2, 1973, 87 Stat. 180; P.L. 94-581, § 103(a), §§ 202(f), 210(a)(3), Oct. 21, 1976, 90 Stat. 2844, 2856. 2862; P.L. 95-588, §302, Nov. 4, 1978, 92 Stat. 2506; P.L. 96–22. §§ 101, 102(b), June 13, 1979, 93 Stat. 47; P.L. 96–151, §§ 203, 204, Dec. 20, 1979, 93 Stat. 1094; P.L. 97-35, § 2002(a), Aug. 13, 1981, 95 Stat. 781; P.L. 97-37, §§3(b), 5(b), (c), Aug. 14, 1981, 95 Stat 936, 937; P.L. 97-72, §§ 102(b), 103(a), (b), Nov. 3, 1981, 95 Stat 1048, 1049; P.L. 97-295, §4(17), (95)(A), Oct. 12, 1982, 96 Stat 1306, 1313; P.L. 99-166, § 104, Dec. 3, 1985, 99 Stat. 944; P.L. 99272, §§ 19011(b), 19012(c)(1), (2), Apr. 7, 1986, 100 Stat. 375, 382 P.L. 99-576, §§ 202, 231(b), 237(b)(2), § 702(5), Oct. 28, 1986, 100 Stat. 3254, 3263, 3267, 3301; P.L. 100-322, §§ 101(a)–(c), (d)(2), (e)(1), (2), (f), (g)(1), (h)(1), 106, May 20, 1988, 102 Stat. 489-492 494; P.L. 101-508, § 8013(b), Nov. 5, 1990, 104 Stat. 1388-346; P.L. 102-25, § 334(a), (c), Apr. 6, 1991, 105 Stat. 88, 89; renumbered § 1712 and amended P.L. 102-83, §§ 4(a)(3), (4), (b)(1), (2)(E), (5) 5(a), (c)(1), Aug. 6, 1991, 105 Stat. 404-406; P.L. 102-86, §§ 301, 302, Aug. 14, 1991, 105 Stat. 416; P.L. 102-585, § 103, Nov. 4, 1992, 106 Stat. 4946; P.L. 103–210, § 1(b), Dec. 20, 1993, 107 Stat 2496; P.L. 103-446, § 1201(d)(3), Nov. 2, 1994, 108 Stat. 4684; P.L 103-452, §§ 101(e), 103(a)(2), Nov. 2, 1994, 108 Stat. 4784, 4786 P.L. 104-110, § 101(a)(2), Feb. 13, 1996, 110 Stat. 768; P.L. 104262, § 101(b)(2)–(c)(2)(A), Oct. 9, 1996, 110 Stat. 3179.)

§1712A. Eligibility for readjustment counseling and related mental health services 1

(a)(1)(A) Upon the request of any veteran referred to in subparagraph (B), the Secretary shall furnish counseling to the veteran to assist the veteran in readjusting to civilian life. Such counseling may include a general mental and psychological assessment of the veteran to ascertain whether such veteran has mental or psychological problems associated with readjustment to civilian life. (B) Subparagraph (A) applies to the following veterans: (i) Any veteran who served on active duty

(I) in a theater of combat operations (as determined by the Secretary in consultation with the Secretary of Defense) during the Vietnam era; or

(II) after May 7, 1975, in an area at a time during which hostilities occurred in that area.

(ii) Any veteran (other than a veteran covered by clause (i)) who served on active duty during the Vietnam era who seeks or is furnished such counseling before January 1, 2000.

(2)(A) Upon the request of any veteran (other than a veteran covered by paragraph (1)) who served in the active military, naval, or air service in a theater of combat operations (as so determined) during a period of war, or in any other area during a period in I which hostilities (as defined in subparagraph (B)) occurred in such area, the Secretary may furnish counseling to the veteran to assist the veteran in readjusting to civilian life.

(B) For the purposes of subparagraph (A), the term "hostilities" means an armed conflict in which the members of the Armed Forces are subjected to danger comparable to the danger to which members of the Armed Forces have been subjected in combat with enemy armed forces during a period of war, as determined by the Secretary in consultation with the Secretary of Defense.

(b)(1) If, on the basis of the assessment furnished under subsection (a) of this section, a physician or psychologist employed by the Department (or, in areas where no such physician or psychologist is available, a physician or psychologist carrying out such function under a contract or fee arrangement with the Secretary) determines that the provision of mental health services to such veteran is necessary to facilitate the successful readjustment of the veteran to civilian life, such veteran shall, within the limits of Department facilities, be furnished such services on an outpatient basis. For the purposes of furnishing such mental health services, the counseling furnished under subsection (a) of this section shall be considered to have been furnished by the Department as a part of hospital care. Any hospital care and other medical services considered necessary on the basis of the assessment furnished under subsection (a) of this section shall be furnished only in accordance with the eligi

1 Section 103(b) of Public Law 96-22 provides:

"(b) In the event of a declaration of war by the Congress after June 13, 1979, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs not later than six months after the date of such declaration, shall determine and recommend to the Congress whether eligibility for the readjustment counseling and related mental health services provided for in section 612A (now 1712A) of title 38, United States Code (as added by subsection (a) of this section) should be extended to the veterans of such war."