[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 38, Volume 1]
[Revised as of July 1, 2002]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 38CFR17.54]

[Page 603-604]
 
            TITLE 38--PENSIONS, BONUSES, AND VETERANS' RELIEF
 
                CHAPTER I--DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
 
PART 17--MEDICAL--Table of Contents
 
Sec. 17.54  Necessity for prior authorization.

    (a) The admission of a veteran to a non-Department of Veterans 
Affairs hospital at Department of Veterans Affairs expense must be 
authorized in advance. In the case of an emergency

[[Page 604]]

which existed at the time of admission, an authorization may be deemed a 
prior authorization if an application, whether formal or informal, by 
telephone, telegraph or other communication, made by the veteran or by 
others in his or her behalf is dispatched to the Department of Veterans 
Affairs (1) for veterans in the 48 contiguous States and Puerto Rico, 
within 72 hours after the hour of admission, including in the 
computation of time Saturday, Sunday and holidays, or (2) for veterans 
in a noncontiguous State, territory or possession of the United States 
(not including Puerto Rico) if facilities for dispatch of application as 
described in this section are not available within the 72-hour period, 
provided the application was filed within 72 hours after facilities 
became available.
    (b) When an application for admission by a veteran in one of the 48 
contiguous States in the United States or in Puerto Rico has been made 
more than 72 hours after admission, or more than 72 hours after 
facilities are available in a noncontiguous State, territory of 
possession of the United States, authorization for continued care at 
Department of Veterans Affairs expense shall be effective as of the 
postmark or dispatch date of the application, or the date of any 
telephone call constituting an informal application.

[42 FR 55212, Oct. 14, 1977. Redesignated at 61 FR 21965, May 13, 1996]