118 STAT. 2382 PUBLIC LAW 108–422—NOV. 30, 2004 ‘‘(j) REGULATIONS.—The Secretary shall prescribe regulations to carry out this section. The regulations shall include the establish ment of criteria for the award of payments under this section.’’. (2) The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after section 1743 the following new item: ‘‘1744. Hiring and retention of nurses: payments to assist States.’’. (b) IMPLEMENTATION.—The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall implement section 1744 of title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), as expeditiously as possible. The Secretary shall establish such interim procedures as necessary so as to ensure that payments are made to eligible States under that section com mencing not later than June 1, 2005, notwithstanding that regula tions under subsection (j) of that section may not have become final. SEC. 202. TREATMENT OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS PER DIEM PAYMENTS TO STATE HOMES FOR VETERANS. Section 1741 is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: ‘‘(e) Payments to States pursuant to this section shall not be considered a liability of a third party, or otherwise be used to offset or reduce any other payment made to assist veterans.’’. SEC. 203. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY TO PROVIDE CARE UNDER LONG TERM CARE PILOT PROGRAMS. Subsection (h) of section 102 of the Veterans Millennium Health Care and Benefits Act (38 U.S.C. 1710B note) is amended— (1) by inserting ‘‘(1)’’ before ‘‘The authority of’’; and (2) by adding at the end the following new paragraph: ‘‘(2) In the case of a veteran who is participating in a pilot program under this section as of the end of the three year period applicable to that pilot program under paragraph (1), the Secretary may continue to provide to that veteran any of the services that could be provided under the pilot program. The authority to provide services to any veteran under the preceding sentence applies during the period beginning on the date specified in paragraph (1) with respect to that pilot program and ending on December 31, 2005.’’. SEC. 204. PROHIBITION ON COLLECTION OF COPAYMENTS FOR HOS PICE CARE. Section 1710B(c)(2) is amended— (1) by striking ‘‘or’’ at the end of subparagraph (A); (2) by redesignating subparagraph (B) as subparagraph (C); and (3) by inserting after subparagraph (A) the following new subparagraph (B): ‘‘(B) to a veteran being furnished hospice care under this section; or’’. TITLE III—MEDICAL CARE SEC. 301. SEXUAL TRAUMA COUNSELING PROGRAM. (a) PERMANENT AUTHORITY FOR PROGRAM.—Section 1720D(a) is amended— (1) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘During the period through December 31, 2004, the’’ and inserting ‘‘The’’; and Applicability. Procedures. Deadline. 38 USC 1744 note.
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