Establishment of period during which a referral under the Community Care Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs remains valid

Section 1703(a)(2) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new subparagraph: (E) Ensuring that the period during which the referral of a covered veteran, made by a health care provider of the Department of Veterans Affairs, to a non-Department provider, for care or services under this section, is valid, begins on the day that the covered veteran has the first appointment with such non-Department provider..