38 U.S.C. § 111: Payments or allowances for beneficiary travel

Under regulations prescribed by the President pursuant to the provisions of this section, the Secretary may pay the actual necessary expense of travel (including lodging and subsistence), or in lieu thereof an allowance based upon mileage (at a rate of 41.5 cents per mile), of any person to or from a Department facility or other place in connection with vocational rehabilitation, counseling required by the Secretary pursuant to chapter 34 or 35 of this title, or for the purpose of examination, treatment, or care. Actual necessary expense of travel includes the reasonable costs of airfare if travel by air is the only practical way to reach a Department facility. In addition to the mileage allowance authorized by this section, there may be allowed reimbursement for the actual cost of ferry fares, and bridge, road, and tunnel tolls. A veteran or other person whose travel is in connection with treatment or care for a service-connected disability. A veteran with a service-connected disability rated at 30 percent or more. A veteran receiving pension under section 1521 of this title . A veteran (i) who is not traveling by air and whose annual income (as determined under section 1503 of this title ) does not exceed the maximum annual rate of pension which would be payable to such veteran if such veteran were eligible for pension under section 1521 of this title , or (ii) who is determined, under regulations prescribed by the Secretary, to be unable to defray the expenses of the travel for which payment under this section is claimed. Subject to paragraph (3) of this subsection, a veteran or other person whose travel to or from a Department facility is medically required to be performed by a special mode of travel and who is determined under such regulations to be unable to defray the expenses of the travel for which payment under this section is claimed. A veteran whose travel to a Department facility is incident to a scheduled compensation and pension examination. on an in-patient basis; or during a period in which the Secretary provides the veteran with temporary lodging at a facility of the Department to make such care more accessible to the veteran. The Secretary may make payments provided for in this section to or for any person not covered by paragraph (1) of this subsection for travel by such person for examination, treatment, or care. Such payments shall be made in accordance with regulations which the Secretary shall prescribe. Except as provided in subparagraph (B) of this paragraph, the Secretary shall not make payments under this section for travel performed by a special mode of travel unless (i) the travel by such mode is medically required and is authorized by the Secretary before the travel begins, or (ii) the travel by such mode is in connection with a medical emergency of such a nature that the delay incident to obtaining authorization from the Secretary to use that mode of travel would have been hazardous to the person’s life or health. In the case of travel by a person to or from a Department facility by special mode of travel, the Secretary may provide payment under this section to the provider of the transportation by special mode before determining the eligibility of such person for such payment if the Secretary determines that providing such payment is in the best interest of furnishing care and services. Such a payment shall be made subject to subsequently recovering from such person the amount of the payment if such person is determined to have been ineligible for payment for such travel. In the case of transportation of a person to or from a Department facility by ambulance, the Secretary may pay the provider of the transportation the lesser of the actual charge for the transportation or the amount determined by the fee schedule established under section 1834( l ) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395m ( l )) unless the Secretary has entered into a contract for that transportation with the provider. 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 transportation by the veteran. Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, the Secretary, in making a payment under this section to or for a person described in subparagraph (A), (B), (C), or (D) of subsection (b)(1) of this section for travel for examination, treatment, or care, shall deduct from the amount otherwise payable an amount equal to $3 for each one-way trip. In the case of a person who is determined by the Secretary to be a person who is required to make six or more one-way trips for needed examination, treatment, or care during the remainder of the calendar month in which the determination is made or during any subsequent calendar month during the one-year period following the last day of the month in which the determination is made, the amount deducted by the Secretary pursuant to paragraph (1) of this subsection from payments for trips made to or from such facility during any such month shall not exceed $18. No deduction shall be made pursuant to paragraph (1) of this subsection in the case of a person whose travel to or from a Department facility is performed by a special mode of travel for which payment under this section is authorized under subsection (b)(3) of this section. The Secretary may waive the deduction requirement of paragraph (1) of this subsection in the case of the travel of any veteran for whom the imposition of the deduction would cause severe financial hardship. The Secretary shall prescribe in regulations the conditions under which a finding of severe financial hardship is warranted for purposes of this paragraph. The mileage allowance authorized by subsection (a) of this section. Actual local travel expenses. The expense of hiring an automobile or ambulance, or the fee authorized for the services of a nonemployee attendant. Except as provided in paragraph (2), when any person entitled to mileage under this section requires an attendant (other than an employee of the Department) in order to perform such travel, the attendant may be allowed expenses of travel upon the same basis as such person. the period of time in which such veteran is traveling to and from a Department facility for the purpose of medical examination, treatment, or care; and the duration of the medical examination, treatment, or care episode for such veteran. An attendant of a veteran described in this subparagraph is a provider of personal care services for such veteran who is approved under paragraph (6) of section 1720G(a) of this title or designated under paragraph (7) of such section 1720G(a). to limit the number of attendants that may receive expenses of travel under this paragraph for a single medical examination, treatment, or care episode of an eligible veteran; and to require such attendants to use certain travel services. In this subsection, the term “eligible veteran” has the meaning given that term in section 1720G(a)(2) of this title . The Secretary may provide for the purchase of printed reduced-fare requests for use by veterans and their authorized attendants when traveling at their own expense to or from any Department facility. Beginning one year after the date of the enactment of the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010, the Secretary may adjust the mileage rate described in subsection (a) to be equal to the mileage reimbursement rate for the use of privately owned vehicles by Government employees on official business (when a Government vehicle is available), as prescribed by the Administrator of General Services under section 5707(b) of title 5 . If an adjustment in the mileage rate under paragraph (1) results in a lower mileage rate than the mileage rate otherwise specified in subsection (a), the Secretary shall, not later than 60 days before the date of the implementation of the mileage rate as so adjusted, submit to Congress a written report setting forth the adjustment in the mileage rate under this subsection, together with a justification for the decision to make the adjustment in the mileage rate under this subsection. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary may make payments to or for any person traveling in, to, or from the Freely Associated States for receipt of care or services authorized to be legally provided by the Secretary in the Freely Associated States under section 1724(f)(1) of this title . A person who has received payment for travel in a country pursuant to this subsection shall remain eligible for payment for such travel in that country regardless of whether the country continues to qualify as a Freely Associated State for purposes of this subsection. The Secretary shall prescribe regulations to carry out this subsection. the Federated States of Micronesia, during such time as it is a party to the Compact of Free Association set forth in section 201 of the Compact of Free Association Act of 1985 ( Public Law 99–239 ; 48 U.S.C. 1901 note); the Republic of the Marshall Islands, during such time as it is a party to the Compact of Free Association set forth in section 201 of the Compact of Free Association Act of 1985 ( Public Law 99–239 ; 48 U.S.C. 1901 note); and the Republic of Palau, during such time as it is a party to the Compact of Free Association between the United States and the Government of Palau set forth in section 201 of Joint 1 Resolution entitled “Joint Resolution to approve the ‘Compact of Free Association’ between the United States and the Government of Palau, and for other purposes” ( 1 So in original. Probably should be preceded by “the”. Public Law 99–658 ; 48 U.S.C. 1931 note). Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act [ Dec. 29, 2022 ], the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall commence carrying out a pilot program to assess the feasibility and advisability of providing payments authorized under subsection (a) of section 111 of title 38 , United States Code, 48 hours in advance of travel to eligible appointments to veterans and other eligible individuals who are also eligible for a deduction waiver as provided by paragraphs (3) and (4) of subsection (c) of such section. The Secretary shall carry out the pilot program during the five-year period beginning on the date of the commencement of the pilot program. The Secretary shall carry out the pilot program at not fewer than five locations selected by the Secretary for purposes of the pilot program. Not later than 180 days after the date of the completion of the pilot program, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the findings of the Secretary with respect to the pilot program. The number of individuals who benefitted from the pilot program broken, disaggregated by geographic location, race or ethnicity, age, disability rating, and sex. Average distance traveled by participants to appointments and average funds provided per appointment, disaggregated by geographic region. A description of any impediments to carrying out the pilot program. An account of payments provided for travel that did not occur or was authorized incorrectly. An account of any attempts to retrieve such payment. Recommendations of the Secretary for legislative or administrative action to reduce improper payments. An assessment of the feasibility and advisability of providing payments as described in subsection (a).” Not later than 270 days after the date of the enactment of this Act [ Dec. 29, 2022 ], the Secretary shall establish and commence a pilot program, within the Readjustment Counseling Services of the Veterans Health Administration, to assess the feasibility and advisability of providing payment to cover or offset financial difficulties of an individual in accessing or using transportation to and from the nearest Vet Center service site providing the necessary readjustment counseling services for the individual’s plan of service. by individuals pursuant to paragraph (2); and by Vet Centers pursuant to paragraph (3). The Secretary shall limit participation in the pilot program to individuals who are eligible for services at a participating Vet Center and experiencing financial hardship. The Secretary shall determine the meaning of ‘financial hardship’ for purposes of subparagraph (A). Vet Centers participating in the program shall be chosen by the Secretary from among those serving individuals in areas designated by the Secretary as rural or highly rural or Tribal lands. Under the pilot program required by subsection (a), the Secretary shall provide a participating individual a travel allowance or reimbursement at the earliest time practicable, but not later than 10 business days after the date of the appointment. The Secretary shall carry out the pilot program required by subsection (a) during the five-year period beginning on the date of the commencement of the pilot program. The Secretary shall carry out the pilot program at not fewer than five locations selected by the Secretary for purposes of the pilot program. Of the locations selected under paragraph (1), four shall be the locations participating in the initiative commenced under section 104(a) of the Honoring America’s Veterans and Caring for Camp Lejeune Families Act of 2012 ( Public Law 112–154 ) [ 126 Stat. 1169 ], as most recently amended by section 105 of the Continuing Appropriations and Ukraine Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2023 ( Public Law 117–180 ) [ 136 Stat. 2137 ], as of the date of the enactment of this Act. Not later than one year after the date of the commencement of the pilot program required by subsection (a) and each year thereafter for the duration of the pilot program, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives a report on the findings of the Secretary with respect to the pilot program. The number of individuals who benefitted from the pilot program, disaggregated by age, race or ethnicity, and sex, to the extent possible. The average distance traveled by each individual per each Vet Center. The definition of financial hardship determined by the Secretary under subsection (b)(2)(B). A description of how the funds are distributed. The average amount of funds distributed per instance, disaggregated by Vet Center. A description of any impediments to the Secretary in paying expenses or allowances under the pilot program. An assessment of the potential for fraudulent receipt of payment under the pilot program and the recommendations of the Secretary for legislative or administrative action to reduce such fraud. Such recommendations for legislative or administrative action as the Secretary considers appropriate with respect to the payment of expenses or allowances. In this section, the term ‘Vet Center’ means a center for readjustment counseling and related mental health services for veterans under section 1712A of title 38 , United States Code.”