1. Community care for veterans during COVID–19 emergency (a) Veterans Community Care Program and Veterans Care Agreements (1) Eligibility During the period of a covered public health emergency, any veteran covered by subsection (b) of section 1703 or subsection (l) of section 1703A of title 38, United States Code, may receive COVID–19 care pursuant to such respective section, regardless of whether such care is for a service-connected disability. (2) Preauthorization not required (A) In general During the period of a covered public health emergency, in carrying out section 1703(a)(3) of title 38, United States Code, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall treat hospital care and services described in subparagraph (B) as being authorized by the Secretary under such section, regardless of whether the Secretary is notified of such care by any deadline otherwise required by the Secretary for purposes of such section. (B) Hospital care and services described The hospital care and services described in this subparagraph are the following: (i) COVID–19 care. (ii) Emergency medical care and services. (b) Emergency treatment (1) Rule During the period of a covered public health emergency, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall administer claims for payments relating to emergency COVID–19 care as follows: (A) If the community care provider that furnished the care is an eligible provider under section 1703 of title 38, United States Code, the Secretary shall administer the claim pursuant to that section. (B) If the community care provider has entered into a Veterans Care Agreement under section 1703A of such title, the Secretary shall administer the claim pursuant to that section. (C) If the community care provider is not described in subparagraph (A) or (B) of this paragraph, the Secretary shall administer the claim pursuant to section 1725 or 1728 of such title, as the case may be. (2) Scope of treatment During the period of a covered public health emergency, emergency COVID–19 care furnished to veterans shall be deemed