WHAT THE LAW DOINCongress, in plain words

The law › Title 38, Veterans' Benefits › Chapter 17

38 U.S.C. 1703: Veterans Community Care Program

Created in 1986 by Public Law 99-272. Changed by 15 later laws. No bill we track in this Congress changes it.

10 other sections of the Code cite this one, including 38 U.S.C. 1703A, 38 U.S.C. 1703B, 38 U.S.C. 1703C, 38 U.S.C. 1703D, 38 U.S.C. 1703F.

1 part of federal rules cite it as their authority, written by Department of Veterans Affairs (1).

This Congress

No bill we track in the 119th Congress changes this section.

    How it got here

    2025

    • Pub. L. 118–210, §102(a)(2), added subsec. (o). Former subsec. (o) redesignated (p), then (q). (Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act) Law text · (o)
    • Pub. L. 118–210, §103(a)(2), added subsec. (p). (Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act) Law text · (p)
    • Pub. L. 118–210, §§102(a)(1), 103(a)(1), redesignated subsec. (o) as (p), then (q). (Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act) Law text · (q)

    2022

    • Pub. L. 117–328, §125(b), added par. (4). (Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023) Law text · (a)
    • Pub. L. 117–328, §121, added par. (4). (Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023) Law text · (d)

    2018

    • Pub. L. 115–182 amended section generally. Prior to amendment, section related to contracts for hospital care and medical services in non-Department facilities. (John S. McCain III, Daniel K. Akaka, and Samuel R. Johnson VA Maintaining Internal Systems and Strengthening Integrated Outside Networks Act of 2018" or the "VA MISSION Act of 2018) Law text
    • Pub. L. 115–251, §201(a), designated existing provisions as subpar. (A) and added subpar. (B). (Department of Veterans Affairs Expiring Authorities Act of 2018) Law text · (h)
    • Pub. L. 115–251, §202, substituted "the effective date specified in section 101(b)" for "the date of the enactment". (Department of Veterans Affairs Expiring Authorities Act of 2018) Law text · (h)

    2011

    • Pub. L. 112–37 substituted "September 30, 2020" for "September 30, 2013". (Veterans Health Care Facilities Capital Improvement Act of 2011) Law text · (d)

    2008

    • Pub. L. 110–387 substituted "September 30, 2013" for "September 30, 2008". (Veterans' Mental Health and Other Care Improvements Act of 2008) Law text · (d)

    2005

    • Pub. L. 109–13 substituted "shall be available, without fiscal year limitation, for the purposes" for "shall be available for the purposes". (Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act for Defense, the Global War on Terror, and Tsunami Relief, 2005) Law text · (d)

    2004

    • Pub. L. 108–422 added subsec. (d). (Veterans Health Programs Improvement Act of 2004) Law text · (d)

    1996

    • Pub. L. 104–262, §104(b)(1), struck out "or 1712" after ", as authorized in section 1710" in introductory provisions. (Veterans' Health Care Eligibility Reform Act of 1996) Law text · (a)
    • Pub. L. 104–262, §104(b)(2)(A), substituted "1710(a)(1)(B)" for "1712(a)(1)(B)". (Veterans' Health Care Eligibility Reform Act of 1996) Law text · (a)
    • Pub. L. 104–262, §104(b)(2)(B), added subpar. (B) and struck out former subpar. (B) which read as follows: "a veteran described in paragraph (2), (3), or (4) of section 1712(a) of this title, for a purpose described in section 1712(a)(5)(B) of this title;". (Veterans' Health Care Eligibility Reform Act of 1996) Law text · (a)
    • Pub. L. 104–262, §104(b)(2)(C), substituted "section 1710(a)(2)(E) of this title, or a veteran who is in receipt of increased pension, or additional compensation or allowances based on the need of regular aid and attendance or by reason of being permanently housebound (or who, bu… (Veterans' Health Care Eligibility Reform Act of 1996) Law text · (a)
    • Pub. L. 104–262, §104(b)(3), substituted "1712(a)(1)(F)" for "1712(b)(1)(F)". (Veterans' Health Care Eligibility Reform Act of 1996) Law text · (a)

    1992

    • Pub. L. 102–585 added subpar. (C). · (a)

    1991

    • Pub. L. 102–83, §5(a), renumbered section 603 of this title as this section.
    • Pub. L. 102–83, §4(a)(5), substituted "non-Department" for "non-Veterans' Administration" in section catchline.
    • Pub. L. 102–83, §5(c)(1), substituted "1710 or 1712" for "610 or 612" in introductory provisions, "1712(a)(1)(B)" for "612(a)(1)(B)" in par. (2)(A), "1712(a)" for "612(a)" and "1712(a)(5)(B)" for "612(a)(5)(B)" in par. (2)(B), "1712(a)(3)" for "612(a)(3)" in par. (2)(C), "1720" for "62… · (a)
    • Pub. L. 102–83, §4(b)(1), (2)(E), substituted "Secretary" for "Administrator" in introductory provisions and in par. (2)(C). · (a)
    • Pub. L. 102–83, §4(a)(5), substituted "non-Department" for "non-Veterans' Administration" in introductory provisions and in pars. (3) and (5). · (a)
    • Pub. L. 102–83, §4(a)(3), (4), substituted "Department" for "Veterans' Administration" wherever appearing in introductory provisions and pars. (2), (3), (5), and (6). · (a)
    • Pub. L. 102–54, §14(b)(9)(A), struck out "section" before "paragraph". · (a)
    • Pub. L. 102–54, §14(b)(9)(B), substituted "section 612(b)(1)(F)" for "section 612(b)(1)(G)". · (a)
    • Pub. L. 102–83, §4(a)(1), substituted "administered by the Secretary" for "administered by the Veterans' Administration". · (a)
    • Pub. L. 102–83, §4(b)(1), (2)(E), substituted "Secretary" for "Administrator" in two places. · (b)
    • Pub. L. 102–83, §4(a)(5), substituted "non-Department" for "non-Veterans' Administration". · (b)
    • Pub. L. 102–83, §5(c)(1), substituted "1712A, 1720, 1720A, 1724, and 1732" for "612A, 620, 620A, 624, and 632". · (c)
    • Pub. L. 102–83, §4(b)(1), (2)(E), substituted "Secretary" for "Administrator" in two places. · (c)
    • Pub. L. 102–54, §14(b)(9)(C), inserted before period at end "(Public Law 100–322; 102 Stat. 501)". · (c)

    1988

    • Pub. L. 100–322, §104(b)(1), substituted "furnish any of the following:" for "furnish—". · (a)
    • Pub. L. 100–322, §104(b)(2), (3), substituted "Hospital" for "hospital" and the period for semicolon at end. · (a)
    • Pub. L. 100–322, §104(b)(2), (3), substituted "Medical" for "medical" and the period for semicolon at end. · (a)
    • Pub. L. 100–687 substituted "paragraph (2), (3), or (4) of section 612(a)" for "612(a)(4)", and "612(a)(5)(B)" for "612(a)(5)". · (a)
    • Pub. L. 100–322, §101(e)(3)(A), substituted "section 612(a)(4) of this title, for a purpose described in section 612(a)(5) of this title" for "section 612(f)(1)(A)(ii) of this title". · (a)
    • Pub. L. 100–322, §101(e)(3)(B), substituted "section 612(a)(3) (other than a veteran who is a former prisoner of war)" for "section 612(g)". · (a)
    • Pub. L. 100–322, §104(a)(1), (b)(2), (3), substituted "Hospital" for "hospital", inserted "or nursing home care under section 620 of this title", and substituted the period for semicolon at end. · (a)
    • Pub. L. 100–322, §104(b)(2), (3), substituted "Hospital" for "hospital" and the period for semicolon at end. · (a), (5)
    • Pub. L. 100–322, §104(b)(2), (4), substituted "Diagnostic" for "diagnostic" and the period for "; or". · (a)
    • Pub. L. 100–322, §104(b)(2), substituted "Outpatient" for "outpatient". · (a)
    • Pub. L. 100–322, §104(a)(2), added par. (8). · (a)
    • Pub. L. 100–322, §112(a), added subsec. (c). · (c)

    1986

    • Pub. L. 99–272, §19012(c)(5)(A), made conforming amendment to Pub. L. 99–166, §102(b)(1). See 1985 Amendment note below. · (a)

    1985

    • Pub. L. 99–166, §102(b)(1), as amended by Pub. L. 99–272, §19012(c)(5)(A), inserted "(other than the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico)" after "in a State" and substituted "contiguous States and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico" for "contiguous States, but the authority of the Administrato… · (a)

    Text, outline and history from the official U.S. Code (2024 edition) on GovInfo, published by the Office of the Law Revision Counsel. Changes made after that edition appear under This Congress.