United States 115th Congress Status: In Committee 1 R cosponsors

HR 369 — To eliminate the sunset of the Veterans Choice Program, and for other purposes.

Last action — Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 36.

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed House
  4. 4
    Passed Senate
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill died with 115th Congress. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.

This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there are no live odds of enactment. It would have to be reintroduced in the current session to move again.

In plain language

The bill removes the expiration date of the Veterans Choice Program.

This bill eliminates the sunset provision of the Veterans Choice Program, allowing it to continue indefinitely. It also includes changes regarding cost recovery and the disclosure of medical records.

Summary

(Sec. 1) This bill amends the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 to eliminate the August 7, 2017, sunset date for the Veterans Choice Program, which would allow the program to operate until all of the money in the Veterans Choice Fund is expended. (Sec. 2) The bill makes the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) the primary payer (the VA is currently the secondary payer) for medical care relating to non-service connected disabilities and recovery of costs from third parties for certain care under the program. (Sec. 3) The VA may share medical information with a non-VA entity (including private entities and other federal agencies) that provides veterans with hospital care or medical services. Such entity may not redisclose or use such information for a purpose other than that for which the disclosure was made.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

67 added · 2 removed

Plain-language change summary

The amendment to HR 369 changes the heading of a subsection related to veterans' health care costs, clarifying responsibilities for costs associated with certain care. It also revises a paragraph heading and removes specific paragraphs that detailed previous requirements related to secondary payer responsibilities for non-service-connected disabilities. This matters because it simplifies the language and structure of the bill, potentially affecting how costs are managed under the Choice Program for veterans receiving care.

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369 Introduced in House (IH)] <DOC> 115th CONGRESS 1st Session H.
369 Reported in House (RH)] <DOC> Union Calendar No.
36 115th CONGRESS 1st Session H.
369 To eliminate the sunset of the Veterans Choice Program, and for other purposes.
369 [Report No.
115-65] To eliminate the sunset of the Veterans Choice Program, and for other purposes.
which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To eliminate the sunset of the Veterans Choice Program, and for other purposes.
which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs March 29, 2017 Additional sponsors:
Mr.
Meehan, Mr.
Knight, Mr.
McClintock, Mr.
Tipton, Mr.
Bilirakis, and Ms.
Sinema March 29, 2017 Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed [Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic] [For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on January 9, 2017] _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To eliminate the sunset of the Veterans Choice Program, and for other purposes.
<all>
SEC.
2.
ELIMINATION OF REQUIREMENT TO ACT AS SECONDARY PAYER FOR CARE RELATING TO NON-SERVICE-CONNECTED DISABILITIES AND RECOVERY OF COSTS FOR CERTAIN CARE UNDER CHOICE PROGRAM.
(a) In General.--Section 101(e) of the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 (Public Law 113-146;
38 U.S.C.
1701 note) is amended-- (1) in the subsection heading, by striking ``Other Health- Care Plan'' and inserting ``Responsibility for Costs of Certain Care'';
(2) in paragraph (1), in the paragraph heading, by striking ``to secretary'' and inserting ``on health-care plans'';
(3) by striking paragraphs (2) and (3);
(4) by redesignating paragraph (4) as paragraph (2);
and (5) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
``(3) Recovery of costs for certain care.-- ``(A) In general.--In any case in which an eligible veteran is furnished hospital care or medical services under this section for a non-service-connected disability described in subsection (a)(2) of section of title 38, United States Code, or for a condition for which recovery is authorized or with respect to which the United States is deemed to be a third party beneficiary under Public Law 87-693, commonly known as the `Federal Medical Care Recovery Act' (42 U.S.C.
2651 et seq.), the Secretary shall recover or collect from a third party (as defined in subsection (i) of such section 1729) reasonable charges for such care or services to the extent that the veteran (or the provider of the care or services) would be eligible to receive payment for such care or services from such third party if the care or services had not been furnished by a department or agency of the United States.
``(B) Use of amounts.--Amounts collected by the Secretary under subparagraph (A) shall be deposited in the Medical Community Care account of the Department.
Amounts so deposited shall remain available until expended.''.
(b) Conforming Amendment.--Paragraph (1) of such section is amended by striking ``paragraph (4)'' and inserting ``paragraph (2)''.
SEC.
3.
AUTHORITY TO DISCLOSE CERTAIN MEDICAL RECORDS OF VETERANS WHO RECEIVE NON-DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS HEALTH CARE.
Section 7332(b)(2) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
``(H)(i) To a non-Department entity (including private entities and other Federal agencies) that provides hospital care or medical services to veterans.
``(ii) An entity to which a record is disclosed under this subparagraph may not redisclose or use such record for a purpose other than that for which the disclosure was made.''.
Union Calendar No.
36 115th CONGRESS 1st Session H.
R.
369 [Report No.
115-65] _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To eliminate the sunset of the Veterans Choice Program, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________ March 29, 2017 Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed
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How this bill changes current law

7 changes Share ↗

Compared against current U.S. Code AI-generated reading aid — verify against the official bill.

The bill eliminates the sunset provision of the Veterans Choice Program and modifies certain provisions regarding the recovery of costs for care provided under this program.

  • 38 U.S.C. 1701 note

    all that follows ``section 802`` → .

    The bill removes the expiration date for the Veterans Choice Program.

  • 38 U.S.C. 1701 note

    Other Health-Care Plan → Responsibility for Costs of Certain Care

    The heading of the section is updated to better reflect its content.

  • 38 U.S.C. 1701 note

    to secretary → on health-care plans

    The paragraph heading is revised for clarity regarding cost responsibility.

  • 38 U.S.C. 1701 note

    paragraphs (2) and (3)

    The bill removes the existing provisions defining responsibilities for healthcare plans.

  • 38 U.S.C. 1701 note

    paragraph (4) → paragraph (2)

    The renumbering clarifies the remaining content by adjusting the paragraph references.

  • 38 U.S.C. 1729

    ``(3) Recovery of costs for certain care.-- (A) In general.--In any case in which an eligible veteran is furnished hospital care or medical services under this section for a non-service-connected disability described in subsection (a)(2) of section 1729 of title 38, United States Code, or for a condition for which recovery is authorized or with respect to which the United States is deemed to be a third party beneficiary under Public Law 87-693, commonly known as the `Federal Medical Care Recovery Act' (42 U.S.C. 2651 et seq.), the Secretary shall recover or collect from a third party (as defined in subsection (i) of such section 1729) reasonable charges for such care or services to the extent that the veteran (or the provider of the care or services) would be eligible to receive payment for such care or services from such third party if the care or services had not been furnished by a department or agency of the United States. ``(B) Use of amounts.--Amounts collected by the Secretary under subparagraph (A) shall be deposited in the Medical Community Care account of the Department. Amounts so deposited shall remain available until expended.''.

    New provisions are added to establish the Secretary's authority to recover costs from third parties for veterans' care related to non-service-connected disabilities.

  • 38 U.S.C. 7332

    ``(H)(i) To a non-Department entity (including private entities and other Federal agencies) that provides hospital care or medical services to veterans. ``(ii) An entity to which a record is disclosed under this subparagraph may not redisclose or use such record for a purpose other than that for which the disclosure was made.''.

    The bill expands the circumstances under which medical records can be disclosed to non-Department entities providing care to veterans.

Action History

  1. Introduced in House

  2. Introduced in House

  3. Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

  4. Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

  5. Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. H. Rept. 115-65.

  6. Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. H. Rept. 115-65.

  7. Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 36.

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 546 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (546)

546 members have not signed on to this bill.

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"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Subjects

veterans
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Frequently asked questions

What does HR 369 do?
(Sec. 1) This bill amends the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 to eliminate the August 7, 2017, sunset date for the Veterans Choice Program, which would allow the program to operate until all of the money in the Veterans Choice Fund is expended. (Sec. 2) The bill makes the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) the primary payer (the VA is currently the secondary payer) for medical care relating to non-service connected disabilities and recovery of costs from third parties for certain care under the program. (Sec. 3) The VA may share medical information with a non-VA entity (including private entities and other federal agencies) that provides veterans with hospital care or medical services. Such entity may not redisclose or use such information for a purpose other than that for which the disclosure was made.
Who sponsors HR 369?
HR 369 is sponsored by Roe, David P. (Republican).
What is the current status of HR 369?
This bill died with 115th Congress. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
Where can I track HR 369?
Track HR 369 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

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