# § 1720B. Respite care
**(a)** The Secretary may furnish respite care services to a veteran who is enrolled to receive care under section 1710 of this title.
**(b)** For the purpose of this section, the term “respite care services” means care and services which—
**(1)** are of limited duration;
**(2)** are furnished on an intermittent basis to a veteran who is suffering from a chronic illness and who resides primarily at home; and
**(3)** are furnished for the purpose of helping the veteran to continue residing primarily at home.
**(c)** In furnishing respite care services, the Secretary may enter into contract arrangements.
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**Source Credit**: (Added Pub. L. 99–576, title II, § 201(a)(1), Oct. 28, 1986, 100 Stat. 3254, § 620B; amended Pub. L. 101–237, title II, § 201(a), Dec. 18, 1989, 103 Stat. 2066; renumbered § 1720B and amended Pub. L. 102–83, §§ 4(a)(3), (4), (b)(1), (2)(E), 5(a), (c)(1), Aug. 6, 1991, 105 Stat. 404–406; Pub. L. 102–585, title V, § 502, Nov. 4, 1992, 106 Stat. 4955; Pub. L. 106–117, title I, § 101(e), Nov. 30, 1999, 113 Stat. 1549.)
## Editorial Notes
### Amendments
1999—Subsec. (a). , substituted “enrolled” for “eligible”.
Subsec. (b). , in introductory provisions, substituted “the term ‘respite care services’ means care and services” for “the term ‘respite care’ means hospital or nursing home care”, in par. (1) substituted “are” for “is”, in par. (2) substituted “are” for “is” and struck out “in a Department facility” after “furnished”, and in par. (3) substituted “are” for “is”.
Subsec. (c). , added subsec. (c).
1992—Subsec. (c). struck out subsec. (c) which read as follows: “The authority provided by this section terminates on .”
1991—, renumbered as this section.
Subsec. (a). , substituted “1710” for “610”.
, (2)(E), substituted “Secretary” for “Administrator”.
Subsec. (b)(2). , (4), substituted “Department” for “Veterans’ Administration”.
1989—Subsec. (c). substituted “” for “”.
## Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
### Ratification of Actions of Secretary of Veterans Affairs During Transition Periods
, , , ratified actions of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs in carrying out this section, [ note], [ note], or section 1829 [now 3729] of this title, by contract or otherwise, during the period beginning , and ending .
, , , ratified actions of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs in carrying out this section, [ note], [ note], or section 1829 [now 3729] of this title, by contract or otherwise, during the period beginning , and ending .
### Interim Extension of Respite Care Program
> “Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (c) of section 620B [now 1720B] of title 38, United States Code, the authority provided by such section shall terminate on
>
> .”
, , , provided that:
### Report
, , , provided that if the Administrator of Veterans’ Affairs furnished respite care under this section, the Administrator was to conduct an evaluation of the health efficacy and cost-effectiveness of furnishing such care and submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives not later than , a report containing the results of such evaluation and appropriate recommendations.