Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 99 Part 1.djvu/970

 99 STAT. 948

PUBLIC LAW 99-166—DEC. 3, 1985

Report.

(2) The Administrator shall submit to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives a report on the development and implementation of such procedures. The report shall be submitted not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.

38 USC 610 note.

SEC. 109. CHIROPRACTIC SERVICES PILOT PROGRAM.

38 USC 601 etseq.

98 Stat. 2543.

(a) ESTABLISHMENT OF PiLOT PROGRAM.—(1) The Administrator of Veterans' Affairs shall conduct a pilot program to evaluate the therapeutic benefits and the cost-effectiveness of furnishing certain chiropractic services to veterans eligible for medical services under chapter 17 of title 38, United States Code. Such a veteran is eligible to receive chiropractic services under the pilot program if the veteran was furnished hospital care or medical services by the Veterans' Administration for a neuromusculoskeletal condition of the spine within the 12-month period immediately preceding the commencement of the furnishing of such chiropractic services. (2) The pilot program shall consist of not less than one demonstration project in each of five geographic regions of the United States designated by the Administrator for the purpose of this section. (3) The pilot program shall be carried out during the period beginning on January 1, 1986, and ending on December 31, 1988. (b) CONSULTATION AND COORDINATION.—In developing the pilot program, the Administrator shall consult with the Secretary of Defense regarding the demonstration projects carried out by the Secretary under section 632(b) of the Department of Defense Authorization Act, 1985 (10 U.S.C. 1092 note). In designing, conducting, and evaluating the pilot program, the Administrator shall obtain advice and recommendations from recognized medical or scientific authorities in the treatment of neuromusculoskeletal conditions of the spine. The Administrator shall ensure that there is adequate participation by chiropractors in the design and evaluation of the demonstration projects, including participation by representatives from chiropractic colleges recognized by an approved accrediting organization. (c) PAYMENT FOR CHIROPRACTIC SERVICES UNDER THE PILOT PRO-

Insurance. Contracts.

GRAM.—(1)(A) The Administrator shall pay the reasonable charge for chiropractic services furnished to eligible veterans under the pilot program. (B) The Administrator may not pay for such services to the extent that the veteran is entitled to such services (or reimbursement for the expenses of such services) under— (i) an insurance policy or contract; (ii) a medical or hospital service agreement or membership or subscription contract; or (iii) a similar arrangement for the purpose of providing, paying for, or reimbursing expenses for such services. (2) The Administrator— (A) shall reimburse the veteran for such reasonable charges if the veteran has paid for such services; or (B) in lieu of reimbursing a veteran for a charge for chiropractic services under subparagraph (A), may pay the reasonable charge for such chiropractic services directly to the chiropractor who furnished the services. (3) The amount paid for chiropractic services under this subsection may not exceed the amount for such services prescribed under the scheidule of reasonable charges established under subsection (d).

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