Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 124.djvu/1178

 124 STAT. 1152 PUBLIC LAW 111–163—MAY 5, 2010 amended by inserting ‘‘who is not traveling by air and’’ before ‘‘whose annual’’. (d) DETERMINATION OF PRACTICALITY.—Subsection (b) of such section is amended by adding at the end the following new para- graph: ‘‘(4) In determining for purposes of subsection (a) whether travel by air is the only practical way for a veteran to reach a Department facility, the Secretary shall consider the medical condition of the veteran and any other impediments to the use of ground transpor- tation by the veteran.’’. (e) NO EXPANSION OF ELIGIBILITY FOR BENEFICIARY TRAVEL.— The amendments made by subsections (b) and (d) of this section may not be construed as expanding or otherwise modifying eligi- bility for payments or allowances for beneficiary travel under section 111 of title 38, United States Code, as in effect on the day before the date of the enactment of this Act. (f) CLARIFICATION OF RELATION TO PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION IN VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION HANDBOOK.—Not later than 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall revise the Veterans Health Administration Handbook to clarify that an allowance for travel based on mileage paid under section 111(a) of title 38, United States Code, may exceed the cost of such travel by public transportation regardless of medical necessity. SEC. 306. PILOT PROGRAM ON INCENTIVES FOR PHYSICIANS WHO ASSUME INPATIENT RESPONSIBILITIES AT COMMUNITY HOSPITALS IN HEALTH PROFESSIONAL SHORTAGE AREAS. (a) PILOT PROGRAM REQUIRED.—The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall carry out a pilot program to assess the feasability and advisability of each of the following: (1) The provision of financial incentives to eligible physi- cians who obtain and maintain inpatient privileges at commu- nity hospitals in health professional shortage areas in order to facilitate the provision by such physicians of primary care and mental health services to veterans at such hospitals. (2) The collection of payments from third-party providers for care provided by eligible physicians to nonveterans while discharging inpatient responsibilities at community hospitals in the course of exercising the privileges described in paragraph (1). (b) ELIGIBLE PHYSICIANS.—For purposes of this section, an eligible physician is a primary care or mental health physician employed by the Department of Veterans Affairs on a full-time basis. (c) DURATION OF PROGRAM.—The pilot program shall be carried out during the 3-year period beginning on the date of the commence- ment of the pilot program. (d) LOCATIONS.— (1) IN GENERAL.—The pilot program shall be carried out at not less than five community hospitals in each of not less than two Veterans Integrated Services Networks. The hospitals shall be selected by the Secretary using the results of the survey required under subsection (e). (2) QUALIFYING COMMUNITY HOSPITALS.—A community hos- pital may be selected by the Secretary as a location for the pilot program if— Definition. 38 USC 7431 note. Deadline. 38 USC 111 note. 38 USC 111 note.