PUBLIC LAW 115–26—APR. 19, 2017 131 STAT. 129 

Public Law 115–26 

115th Congress 

An Act 

To amend the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 to modify 

the termination date for the Veterans Choice Program, and for other purposes. 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 

the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

SECTION 1. MODIFICATION OF TERMINATION DATE FOR VETERANS 

CHOICE PROGRAM. 

Section 101(p)(2) of the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 (Public Law 113–146; 38 U.S.C. 1701 note) 

is amended by striking ‘‘, or the date that is 3 years after the 

date of the enactment of this Act, whichever occurs first’’. 

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 HEALTHCARE 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 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. 

Apr. 19, 2017 

[S. 544] 


dkrause on DSKHT7XVN1PROD with PUBLAWS
131 STAT. 130 PUBLIC LAW 115–26—APR. 19, 2017 

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—S. 544 (H.R. 369): 

CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 163 (2017): 

Apr. 3, considered and passed Senate. 

Apr. 5, considered and passed House. 

DAILY COMPILATION OF PRESIDENTIAL DOCUMENTS (2017): 

Apr. 19, Presidential remarks. 

Æ 

‘‘(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 as authorized by the Secretary. 

‘‘(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.’’. 

Approved April 19, 2017. 


dkrause on DSKHT7XVN1PROD with PUBLAWS