Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 90 Part 2.djvu/1377

 PUBLIC LAW 94-581—OCT. 21, 1976

90 STAT. 2845

be necessary or appropriate for the effective and economical treatment of a disability of a veteran (including only such improvements and structural alterations the cost of which does not exceed $600 (or reimbursement up to such amount) as are necessary to assure the continuation of treatment or provide access to the home or to essential lavatory and sanitary facilities)."; and (8) inserting at the end thereof the following new subsections: "(i) Not later than ninety days after the effective date of this subsection, the Administrator shall prescribe regulations to ensure that special priority in furnishing medical services under this section and any other outpatient care with funds appropriated for the medical care of veterans shall be accorded in the following order, unless compelling medical reasons require that such care be provided more expeditiously: "(1) To any veteran for a service-connected disability. "(2) To any veteran described in subsection (f)(2) of this section. "(3) To any veteran with a disability rated as serviceconnected. "(4) To any veteran being furnished medical services under subsection (g) of this section, "(j) In order to assist the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare in carrying out national immunization programs pursuant to other provisions of law the Administrator may authorize the administration of immunizations to eligible veterans (voluntarily requesting such immunizations) in connection with the provision of care for a disability under this chapter in any Veterans' Administration health care facility, utilizing vaccine furnished by the Secretary at no cost to the Veterans' Administration, and for such purpose, notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary is authorized to provide such vaccine to the Veterans' Administration at no cost and the provisions of section 4116 of this title shall apply to claims alleging negligence or malpractice on the part of Veterans' Administration personnel granted immunity under such section.". (b) Not later than one year after the effective date of this section. and annually thereafter, the Administrator shall report to the Congress on the results of the regulations prescribed to carry out the amendment (adding section 612(i) of title 38, United States Code) made by subsection (a)(8) of this section. SEC. 104. Subsection (a) of section 613 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by amending clause (2) to read as follows: "(2) the widow or child of a veteran who (A) died as a result of a service-connected disability, or (B) at the time of death had a total disability permanent in nature, resulting from a serviceconnected disability,". SEC. 105. (a) Section 618 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by—

Regulations,

Report to Congress, 38 USC 612 note,

Therapeutic and rehabilitative

(1) striking out "The" in the first sentence and inserting in lieu services, thereof "(a) In providing rehabilitative services under this chapter, the"; (2) striking out "hospitals and domiciliaries" and inserting in lieu thereof "health care facilities"; and (3) inserting below subsection (a) (as redesignated by clause (1) of this subsection) the following new subsections:

89-194 O—78—pt. 2

87

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