; or (E) the covered veteran and the covered veteran’s referring clinician agree that furnishing care and services through a non-Department entity or provider would be in the best medical interest of the covered veteran based upon criteria developed by the Secretary. (2) The Secretary shall ensure that the criteria developed under paragraph (1)(E) include consideration of the following: (A) The distance between the covered veteran and the facility that provides the hospital care, medical services, or extended care services the veteran needs. (B) The nature of the hospital care, medical services, or extended care services required. (C) The frequency that the hospital care, medical services, or extended care services needs to be furnished. (D) The timeliness of available appointments for the hospital care, medical services, or extended care services the veteran needs. (E) Whether the covered veteran faces an unusual or excessive burden to access hospital care, medical services, or extended care services from the Department medical facility where a covered veteran seeks hospital care, medical services, or extended care services, which shall include consideration of the following: (i) Whether the covered veteran faces an excessive driving distance, geographical challenge, or environmental factor that impedes the access of the covered veteran. (ii) Whether the hospital care, medical services, or extended care services sought by the veteran is provided by a medical facility of the Department that is reasonably accessible to a covered veteran. (iii) Whether a medical condition of the covered veteran affects the ability of the covered veteran to travel. (iv) Whether there is compelling reason, as determined by the Secretary, that the veteran needs to receive hospital care, medical services, or extended care services from a medical facility other than a medical facility of the Department. (v) Such other considerations as the Secretary considers appropriate. (3) If the Secretary has determined that the Department does not