A bill 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.

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. 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 , or the date that is 3 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, whichever occurs first 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 (1) in the subsection heading, by striking Other health-care plan Responsibility for costs of certain care (2) in paragraph (1), in the paragraph heading, by striking to Secretary 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 Federal Medical Care Recovery Act 42 U.S.C. 2651 (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) paragraph (2) 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. .

Summary: 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, thus allowing 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 (currently the VA is 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 authorized 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.