I 
113TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 5404 
To amend title 38, United States Code, to extend certain expiring provisions 
of law administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and for other 
purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
SEPTEMBER 8, 2014 
Mr. DENHAM (for himself and Mr. MILLER of Florida) introduced the fol-
lowing bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, 
and in addition to the Committees on Armed Services and the Budget, 
for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case 
for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the 
committee concerned 
A BILL 
To amend title 38, United States Code, to extend certain 
expiring provisions of law administered by the Secretary 
of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 
‘‘Department of Veterans Affairs Expiring Authorities Act 
of 2014’’. 
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(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for 
this Act is as follows: 
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 
Sec. 2. References to title 38, United States Code. 
Sec. 3. Scoring of budgetary effects. 
TITLE I—EXTENSIONS OF AUTHORITY RELATING TO HEALTH 
CARE 
Sec. 101. Extension of requirement to provide nursing home care to certain vet-
erans with service-connected disabilities. 
Sec. 102. Extension of authority for pilot program on counseling in retreat set-
tings for women veterans newly separated from service in the 
Armed Forces. 
Sec. 103. Extension of authority for pilot program on assistance for child care 
for certain veterans receiving health care. 
Sec. 104. Extension of authority to make grants to veterans service organiza-
tions for transportation of highly rural veterans. 
Sec. 105. Extension of requirement for report on activities of Department of 
Defense-Department of Veterans Affairs Interagency Program 
Office. 
Sec. 106. Extension of authority for the performance of medical disabilities ex-
aminations by contract physicians. 
Sec. 107. Extension of authority for collection of copayments for hospital care 
and nursing home care. 
Sec. 108. Extension of authority for recovery from third parties of cost of care 
and services furnished to veterans with health-plan contracts 
for non-service-connected disability. 
TITLE II—EXTENSIONS OF AUTHORITY RELATING TO 
HOMELESSNESS 
Sec. 201. Extension of current funding level for comprehensive service pro-
grams for homeless veterans. 
Sec. 202. Extension of authority for homeless veterans reintegration programs. 
Sec. 203. Extension of authority to provide referral and counseling services for 
certain veterans at risk of homelessness. 
Sec. 204. Extension of authority for treatment and rehabilitation services for 
seriously mentally ill and homeless veterans. 
Sec. 205. Extension of authority to provide housing assistance for homeless vet-
erans. 
Sec. 206. Extension of authority to provide financial assistance for supportive 
services for very low-income veteran families in permanent 
housing. 
Sec. 207. Extension of authority for grant program for homeless veterans with 
special needs. 
Sec. 208. Extension of authority for the Advisory Committee on Homeless Vet-
erans. 
TITLE III—EXTENSIONS OF AUTHORITY RELATING TO BENEFITS 
Sec. 301. Extension of authority for the Veterans’ Advisory Committee on Edu-
cation. 
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Sec. 302. Extension of authority for calculating net value of real property at 
time of foreclosure. 
Sec. 303. Extension of authority relating to vendee loans. 
Sec. 304. Extension of authority to provide rehabilitation and vocational bene-
fits to members of the Armed Forces with severe injuries or 
illnesses. 
TITLE IV—OTHER EXTENSIONS OF AUTHORITY AND OTHER 
MATTERS 
Sec. 401. Extension of authority to transport certain individuals to and from 
Department of Veterans Affairs facilities. 
Sec. 402. Extension of authority for operation of the Department of Veterans 
Affairs regional office in Manila, the Republic of the Phil-
ippines. 
Sec. 403. Extension of requirement to provide reports to Congress regarding 
equitable relief in the case of administrative error. 
Sec. 404. Extension of authority for Advisory Committee on Minority Veterans. 
Sec. 405. Extension of authority for temporary expansion of eligibility for spe-
cially adapted housing assistance for certain veterans with dis-
abilities causing difficulty ambulating. 
Sec. 406. Extension of authority for agreement with National Academy of 
Sciences. 
Sec. 407. Assistance and enforcement of USERRA rights with respect to em-
ployers that are Federal departments and agencies. 
Sec. 408. Health professionals education debt reduction. 
Sec. 409. Amendments to Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 
2014. 
SEC. 2. REFERENCES TO TITLE 38, UNITED STATES CODE. 
Except as otherwise expressly provided, whenever in 
this Act an amendment or repeal is expressed in terms 
of an amendment to, or repeal of, a section or other provi-
sion, the reference shall be considered to be made to a 
section or other provision of title 38, United States Code. 
SEC. 3. SCORING OF BUDGETARY EFFECTS. 
The budgetary effects of this Act, for the purpose of 
complying with the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010, 
shall be determined by reference to the latest statement 
titled ‘‘Budgetary Effects of PAYGO Legislation’’ for this 
Act, submitted for printing in the Congressional Record 
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by the Chairman of the House Budget Committee, pro-
vided that such statement has been submitted prior to the 
vote on passage. 
TITLE I—EXTENSIONS OF AU-
THORITY 
RELATING 
TO 
HEALTH CARE 
SEC. 101. EXTENSION OF REQUIREMENT TO PROVIDE 
NURSING HOME CARE TO CERTAIN VET-
ERANS WITH SERVICE-CONNECTED DISABIL-
ITIES. 
Section 1710A(d) is amended by striking ‘‘December 
31, 2014’’ and inserting ‘‘December 31, 2015’’. 
SEC. 102. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR PILOT PROGRAM 
ON COUNSELING IN RETREAT SETTINGS FOR 
WOMEN VETERANS NEWLY SEPARATED FROM 
SERVICE IN THE ARMED FORCES. 
(a) EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY.—Subsection (d) of 
section 203 of the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus 
Health Services Act of 2010 (Public Law 111–163; 124 
Stat. 1143; 38 U.S.C. 1712A note) is amended to read 
as follows: 
‘‘(d) TERMINATION.—The authority to carry out a 
pilot program under this section shall terminate on De-
cember 31, 2015.’’. 
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(b) AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIATIONS.—Sub-
section (f) of such section is amended by striking ‘‘fiscal 
years 2010 and 2011’’ and inserting ‘‘fiscal years 2010, 
2011, and 2015’’. 
SEC. 103. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR PILOT PROGRAM 
ON ASSISTANCE FOR CHILD CARE FOR CER-
TAIN VETERANS RECEIVING HEALTH CARE. 
(a) EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY.—Subsection (e) of 
section 205 of the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus 
Health Services Act of 2010 (Public Law 111–163; 124 
Stat. 1144; 38 U.S.C. 1710 note) is amended to read as 
follows: 
‘‘(e) TERMINATION.—The authority to carry out a 
pilot program under this section shall terminate on De-
cember 31, 2015.’’. 
(b) AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIATIONS.—Sub-
section (h) of such section is amended by striking ‘‘2014’’ 
and inserting ‘‘2015’’. 
SEC. 104. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY TO MAKE GRANTS TO 
VETERANS SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS FOR 
TRANSPORTATION OF HIGHLY RURAL VET-
ERANS. 
Section 307(d) of the Caregivers and Veterans Omni-
bus Health Services Act of 2010 (Public Law 111–163; 
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124 Stat. 1154; 38 U.S.C. 1710 note) is amended by 
striking ‘‘2014’’ and inserting ‘‘2015’’. 
SEC. 105. EXTENSION OF REQUIREMENT FOR REPORT ON 
ACTIVITIES OF DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE- 
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS INTER-
AGENCY PROGRAM OFFICE. 
Section 1635(h)(1) of the Wounded Warrior Act 
(title XVI of Public Law 110–181; 122 Stat. 460; 10 
U.S.C. 1071 note) is amended by striking ‘‘2014’’ and in-
serting ‘‘2015’’. 
SEC. 106. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR THE PERFORM-
ANCE OF MEDICAL DISABILITIES EXAMINA-
TIONS BY CONTRACT PHYSICIANS. 
Section 704(c) of the Veterans Benefits Act of 2003 
(Public Law 108–183; 38 U.S.C. 5101 note) is amended 
by striking ‘‘December 31, 2014’’ and inserting ‘‘Decem-
ber 31, 2015’’. 
SEC. 107. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR COLLECTION OF 
COPAYMENTS 
FOR 
HOSPITAL 
CARE 
AND 
NURSING HOME CARE. 
Section 1710(f)(2)(B) is amended by striking ‘‘Sep-
tember 30, 2014’’ and inserting ‘‘September 30, 2015’’. 
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SEC. 108. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR RECOVERY FROM 
THIRD PARTIES OF COST OF CARE AND SERV-
ICES 
FURNISHED 
TO 
VETERANS 
WITH 
HEALTH-PLAN CONTRACTS FOR NON-SERV-
ICE-CONNECTED DISABILITY. 
Section 1729(a)(2)(E) is amended by striking ‘‘Octo-
ber 1, 2014’’ and inserting ‘‘October 1, 2015’’. 
TITLE II—EXTENSIONS OF AU-
THORITY 
RELATING 
TO 
HOMELESSNESS 
SEC. 201. EXTENSION OF CURRENT FUNDING LEVEL FOR 
COMPREHENSIVE SERVICE PROGRAMS FOR 
HOMELESS VETERANS. 
Section 
2013(7) 
is 
amended 
by 
striking 
‘‘$150,000,000’’ and inserting ‘‘$250,000,000’’. 
SEC. 202. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR HOMELESS VET-
ERANS REINTEGRATION PROGRAMS. 
Section 2021(e)(1)(F) is amended by striking 
‘‘2014’’ and inserting ‘‘2015’’. 
SEC. 203. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY TO PROVIDE REFER-
RAL AND COUNSELING SERVICES FOR CER-
TAIN VETERANS AT RISK OF HOMELESSNESS. 
Section 2023(d) is amended by striking ‘‘September 
30, 2014’’ and inserting ‘‘September 30, 2015’’. 
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SEC. 208. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR THE ADVISORY 
COMMITTEE ON HOMELESS VETERANS. 
Section 2066(d) is amended by striking ‘‘December 
31, 2014’’ and inserting ‘‘December 31, 2017’’. 
TITLE III—EXTENSIONS OF AU-
THORITY RELATING TO BENE-
FITS 
SEC. 301. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR THE VETERANS’ 
ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION. 
Section 3692(c) is amended by striking ‘‘December 
31, 2014’’ and inserting ‘‘December 31, 2017’’. 
SEC. 302. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR CALCULATING 
NET VALUE OF REAL PROPERTY AT TIME OF 
FORECLOSURE. 
Section 3732(c)(11) is amended by striking ‘‘October 
1, 2014’’ and inserting ‘‘October 1, 2015’’. 
SEC. 303. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY RELATING TO VEND-
EE LOANS. 
Section 3733(a)(7) is amended— 
(1) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), 
by striking ‘‘September 30, 2014’’ and inserting 
‘‘September 30, 2015’’; and 
(2) in subparagraph (C), by striking ‘‘Sep-
tember 30, 2014,’’ and inserting ‘‘September 30, 
2015,’’. 
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SEC. 304. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY TO PROVIDE REHA-
BILITATION AND VOCATIONAL BENEFITS TO 
MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES WITH SE-
VERE INJURIES OR ILLNESSES. 
Section 1631(b)(2) of the Wounded Warrior Act (title 
XVI of Public Law 110–181; 122 Stat. 458; 10 U.S.C. 
1071 note) is amended by striking ‘‘December 31, 2014’’ 
and inserting ‘‘December 31, 2015’’. 
TITLE IV—OTHER EXTENSIONS 
OF AUTHORITY AND OTHER 
MATTERS 
SEC. 401. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY TO TRANSPORT CER-
TAIN INDIVIDUALS TO AND FROM DEPART-
MENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS FACILITIES. 
Section 111A(a)(2) is amended by striking ‘‘Decem-
ber 31, 2014’’ and inserting ‘‘December 31, 2015’’. 
SEC. 402. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR OPERATION OF 
THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS 
REGIONAL OFFICE IN MANILA, THE REPUB-
LIC OF THE PHILIPPINES. 
Section 315(b) is amended by striking ‘‘December 31, 
2014’’ and inserting ‘‘September 30, 2015’’. 
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SEC. 403. EXTENSION OF REQUIREMENT TO PROVIDE RE-
PORTS TO CONGRESS REGARDING EQUI-
TABLE RELIEF IN THE CASE OF ADMINISTRA-
TIVE ERROR. 
Section 503(c) is amended by striking ‘‘December 31, 
2014’’ and inserting ‘‘December 31, 2015’’. 
SEC. 404. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR ADVISORY COM-
MITTEE ON MINORITY VETERANS. 
Section 544(e) is amended by striking ‘‘December 31, 
2014’’ and inserting ‘‘December 31, 2017’’. 
SEC. 405. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR TEMPORARY EX-
PANSION OF ELIGIBILITY FOR SPECIALLY 
ADAPTED HOUSING ASSISTANCE FOR CER-
TAIN VETERANS WITH DISABILITIES CAUSING 
DIFFICULTY AMBULATING. 
Section 2101(a)(4) is amended— 
(1) in subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘Sep-
tember 30, 2014’’ and inserting ‘‘September 30, 
2015’’; and 
(2) in subparagraph (B), by striking ‘‘fiscal 
year 2014’’ and inserting ‘‘each of fiscal years 2014 
and 2015’’. 
SEC. 406. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR AGREEMENT 
WITH NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 
Section 3(i) of the Agent Orange Act of 1991 (Public 
Law 102–4; 105 Stat. 13; 38 U.S.C. 1116 note) is amend-
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ed by striking ‘‘October 1, 2014’’ and inserting ‘‘Decem-
ber 31, 2015’’. 
SEC. 407. ASSISTANCE AND ENFORCEMENT OF USERRA 
RIGHTS WITH RESPECT TO EMPLOYERS THAT 
ARE FEDERAL DEPARTMENTS AND AGEN-
CIES. 
(a) ASSISTANCE.—Section 4321 is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘The Secretary’’ and inserting 
‘‘(a) STATE AND PRIVATE EMPLOYERS.—The Sec-
retary’’; 
(2) by inserting after ‘‘this chapter’’ the fol-
lowing: ‘‘with respect to a State (as an employer) or 
a private employer’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following new sub-
section: 
‘‘(b) FEDERAL EMPLOYERS.—The Office of Special 
Counsel established by section 1211 of title 5 shall provide 
assistance to any person with respect to the employment 
and reemployment rights and benefits to which such per-
son is entitled under this chapter with respect to a Federal 
executive agency or the Office of Personnel Management. 
In providing such assistance, the Special Counsel may re-
quest the assistance of existing Federal and State agencies 
engaged in similar or related activities and utilize the as-
sistance of volunteers.’’. 
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(b) INVESTIGATION
AND ENFORCEMENT.—Section 
4324 is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)— 
(A) by striking paragraph (1) and insert-
ing the following new paragraph (1): 
‘‘(1)(A) A person described in subparagraph (B) may 
file a complaint with the Office of Special Counsel estab-
lished by section 1211 of title 5, and the Special Counsel 
shall investigate such complaint. 
‘‘(B) A person described in this subparagraph is a 
person who claims that— 
‘‘(i) such person is entitled under this chapter 
to employment or reemployment rights or benefits 
with respect to employment by an employer that is 
a Federal executive agency; and 
‘‘(ii) such employer or the Office of Personnel 
Management has failed or refused, or is about to fail 
or refuse, to comply with the provisions of this chap-
ter. 
‘‘(C) Such a complaint shall be in writing, be in such 
form as the Special Counsel may prescribe, include the 
name and address of the employer against whom the com-
plaint is filed, and contain a summary of the allegations 
that form the basis for the complaint.’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (2)— 
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(i) in subparagraph (A), by striking 
‘‘the person on whose behalf a complaint is 
referred’’ and inserting ‘‘a person who sub-
mits a complaint’’; and 
(ii) in subparagraph (B)— 
(I) by striking ‘‘60 days’’ and in-
serting ‘‘90 days’’; and 
(II) by striking ‘‘receives a refer-
ral’’ and inserting ‘‘receives a person’s 
complaint’’; 
(2) in subsection (b)— 
(A) by striking paragraphs (1) and (2); 
and 
(B) by redesignating paragraphs (3) and 
(4) as paragraphs (1) and (2), respectively; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following new sub-
section: 
‘‘(e) This subchapter does not apply to any action re-
lating to benefits to be provided under the Thrift Savings 
Plan under title 5.’’. 
(c) TECHNICAL AND CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.— 
Chapter 43 is amended— 
(1) in section 4322— 
(A) in subsection (a)— 
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(i) in paragraph (1), by inserting after 
‘‘an employer’’ the following: ‘‘that is a 
State or a private employer’’; and 
(ii) in paragraph (2)— 
(I) by striking ‘‘(A)’’; 
(II) by striking ‘‘; or’’ and insert-
ing a comma; and 
(III) by striking subparagraph 
(B); 
(B) in subsection (c)(1), by striking ‘‘or 
4324, as the case may be’’; 
(C) in subsection (e)(2), by striking ‘‘(in 
the case of a person submitting a complaint 
against a State or private employer) or section 
4324 (in the case of a person submitting a com-
plaint against a Federal executive agency or the 
Office of Personnel Management)’’; 
(D) by striking subsection (g); and 
(E) by striking the section heading and in-
serting the following: ‘‘Investigation and 
resolution of claims with respect to a 
State or private employer’’; 
(2) in section 4325(d)— 
(A) in paragraph (1), by inserting ‘‘or the 
Special Counsel’’ after ‘‘Secretary’’; and 
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(B) in paragraph (2), by inserting ‘‘, the 
Special Counsel,’’ after ‘‘Secretary’’; 
(3) in section 4326— 
(A) in subsection (a)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘the Secretary’s duly 
authorized representatives’’ and inserting 
‘‘the duly authorized representatives of the 
Secretary or the Special Counsel, as the 
case may be,’’ and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘the Secretary con-
siders’’ and inserting ‘‘the Secretary or the 
Special Counsel, as the case may be, con-
siders’’; 
(B) in subsection (b), by inserting after 
‘‘Secretary’’ both places it appears the fol-
lowing: ‘‘(or the Special Counsel, as the case 
may be)’’; and 
(C) in subsection (c), by inserting ‘‘or the 
Special Counsel’’ after ‘‘Secretary’’ each place 
it appears; 
(4) in section 4327— 
(A) in subsection (a)(2), by striking 
‘‘4324(a)(1),’’; and 
(B) in subsection (b), by inserting ‘‘the 
Special Counsel,’’ after ‘‘the Secretary,’’; and 
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(5) in section 4332(b)(3)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘received a referral’’ and 
inserting ‘‘received a complaint submitted’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘for such referral’’. 
(d) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections 
at the beginning of chapter 43 is amended by striking the 
item relating to section 4322 and inserting the following 
new item: 
‘‘4322. Investigation and resolution of claims with respect to a State or private 
employer.’’. 
(e) EFFECTIVE DATE.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—This section and the amend-
ments made by this section shall take effect on the 
date that is 90 days after the date of the enactment 
of this Act. 
(2) TRANSFER
OF
FUNCTIONS; FUNDING.— 
During the 90-day period following the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Special Counsel shall 
enter into an agreement with the Secretary of Labor 
to transfer to the Special Counsel such sums as may 
be necessary to carry out the functions reassigned to 
the Special Counsel pursuant to this section. The 
Director of the Office of Management and Budget 
shall coordinate with the Special Counsel and the 
Secretary of Labor in entering into and carrying out 
such agreement. No funds may be transferred under 
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an agreement entered into under this paragraph on 
or after the first day of any period for which appro-
priations are provided for the Office of Special 
Counsel in an appropriations Act (other than a con-
tinuing resolution) enacted subsequent to the date of 
the enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 408. HEALTH PROFESSIONALS EDUCATION DEBT RE-
DUCTION. 
Section 7683 is amended— 
(1) by striking subsection (a) and inserting the 
following new subsection: 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Education debt reduction pay-
ments under the Education Debt Reduction Program shall 
consist of— 
‘‘(1) payments to individuals selected to partici-
pate in the program of amounts to reimburse such 
individuals for payments by such individuals of prin-
cipal and interest on loans described in section 
7682(a)(2) of this title; or 
‘‘(2) payments for the principal and interest on 
such loans of such individuals to the holders of such 
loans.’’; 
(2) in subsections (b) and (c), by striking ‘‘pay-
ments to’’ both places it appears and inserting ‘‘pay-
ments to or for’’; and 
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(3) in subsection (d)— 
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘made 
to’’ and inserting ‘‘made to or for’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (2)(A), by striking ‘‘pay-
able to that’’ and inserting ‘‘payable to or for 
that’’. 
SEC. 409. AMENDMENTS TO VETERANS ACCESS, CHOICE, 
AND ACCOUNTABILITY ACT OF 2014. 
(a) EXPANDED AVAILABILITY OF HOSPITAL CARE 
AND MEDICAL SERVICES.—Section 101 of the Veterans 
Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 (Public 
Law 113–146; 38 U.S.C. 1701 note) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (c)— 
(A) in paragraph (1)(A), by inserting ‘‘pro-
vide the veteran an appointment that exceeds 
the wait-time goals described in such subsection 
or’’ before ‘‘place such’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (2), by inserting ‘‘(or 
other digital channel)’’ after ‘‘website’’; 
(2) in subsection (d)— 
(A) in paragraph (1)(A), by adding at the 
end the following new sentence: ‘‘An agreement 
entered into pursuant to this subparagraph may 
not be treated as a public contract for the ac-
quisition of goods or services and is not subject 
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to any provision of law governing public con-
tracts or the acquisition of goods or services. 
Before entering into an agreement pursuant to 
this subparagraph, the Secretary shall, to the 
maximum extent practicable and consistent with 
the requirements of this section, furnish such 
care and services to such veterans under this 
section with such entities pursuant to sharing 
agreements, existing contracts entered into by 
the Secretary, or other processes available at 
medical facilities of the Department.’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (2)(B)(ii)— 
(i) in subclause (I), by striking ‘‘The 
Secretary’’ and inserting ‘‘Except as pro-
vided by subclause (III), the Secretary’’; 
and 
(ii) by adding at the end the following 
new subclause: 
‘‘(III) SPECIAL RULES FOR ALAS-
KA AND MARYLAND.—With respect to 
furnishing care or services under this 
section in Alaska, the Secretary shall 
negotiate a rate in accordance with 
the Alaska Fee Schedule of the De-
partment of Veterans Affairs except 
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in instances where the Secretary en-
ters into another agreement, including 
a contract or provider agreement. 
With respect to furnishing care or 
services under this section in Mary-
land, in the event of an all-payer 
Medicare waiver under section 1115A 
of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
1315a), the Secretary shall ensure 
that rates are negotiated in accord-
ance with rates established pursuant 
to such waiver, except in instances 
where the Secretary enters into an-
other payment agreement.’’; 
(3) in subsection (l)(1), by inserting ‘‘a copy 
of’’ before ‘‘any medical record’’; and 
(4) by adding at the end the following new sub-
section: 
‘‘(t) WAIVER
OF
CERTAIN
PRINTING
REQUIRE-
MENTS.—Section 501 of title 44, United States Code, 
shall not apply in carrying out this section.’’. 
(b) COLLABORATION BETWEEN VA AND INDIAN 
HEALTH SERVICE.—Section 102 of the Veterans Access, 
Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 (Public Law 113– 
146; 38 U.S.C. 1701 note) is amended— 
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(1) in subsection (b), by striking ‘‘The Sec-
retary of Veterans Affairs shall establish’’ and in-
serting the following: ‘‘The Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs and the Director of the Indian Health Serv-
ice shall jointly establish and implement’’; 
(2) in subsection (c), by adding at the end the 
following new paragraph: 
‘‘(3) Entering into an agreement between the 
Department and the Indian Health Service described 
in paragraph (2)(A) with respect to the effect of 
such agreement on the priority access of any Indian 
to health care services provided through the Indian 
Health Service, the eligibility of any Indian to re-
ceive health services through the Indian Health 
Service, and the quality of health care services pro-
vided to any Indian through the Indian Health Serv-
ice.’’; and 
(3) by striking subsection (d). 
(c) PROMPT PAYMENT.—Section 105 of the Veterans 
Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 (Public 
Law 113–146; 38 U.S.C. 1701 note) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘section 
1315’’ and inserting ‘‘part 1315’’; 
(2) in subsection (b)(2), by striking ‘‘chapter 
39’’ and inserting ‘‘chapter 39 of title 31’’; and 
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(3) in subsection (d), by striking ‘‘required by 
subsection (b)’’ and inserting ‘‘required by sub-
section (c)’’. 
(d) IMPROVEMENT OF ACCESS TO MOBILE VET CEN-
TERS.—Section 204 of the Veterans Access, Choice, and 
Accountability Act of 2014 (Public Law 113–146; 38 
U.S.C. 1701 note) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)— 
(A) in paragraph (1), by inserting ‘‘and re-
adjustment counseling services’’ after ‘‘other 
health care’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (2)— 
(i) in subparagraph (B), by inserting 
‘‘and events’’ after ‘‘locations’’; and 
(ii) in subparagraph (C), by inserting 
‘‘and outreach contacts’’ after ‘‘appoint-
ments’’; and 
(2) in subsection (b)(2)— 
(A) in subparagraph (A)— 
(i) in the matter preceding clause (i), 
by inserting ‘‘and readjustment coun-
seling’’ after ‘‘telemedicine services’’; and 
(ii) in clause (iii), by inserting ‘‘and 
outreach contracts’’ after ‘‘appointments’’; 
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(B) in subparagraph (B), by inserting 
‘‘and readjustment counseling’’ after ‘‘health 
care services’’; and 
(C) in subparagraph (E), by striking ‘‘mo-
bile vet centers and’’. 
(e) IMPROVED TRANSPARENCY.—Section 206(b) of 
the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 
2014 (Public Law 113–146; 38 U.S.C. 1701 note) is 
amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘comprehen-
sive database’’ and inserting ‘‘comprehensive, ma-
chine-readable data set’’; 
(2) in paragraph (3), by striking ‘‘notice in the 
database of the reason’’ and inserting ‘‘notice of the 
reason’’; and 
(3) in paragraphs (2), (3), and (4), by striking 
‘‘database’’ each place it appears and inserting 
‘‘data’’. 
(f) INFORMATION ON CREDENTIALS.—Section 207 of 
the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 
2014 (Public Law 113–146; 38 U.S.C. 1701 note) is 
amended by striking ‘‘successor database’’ each place it 
appears and inserting ‘‘successor data set’’. 
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(g) REPORT
ON STAFFING SHORTAGES.—Section 
301(b)(3) of the Veterans Access, Choice, and Account-
ability Act of 2014 (Public Law 113–146) is amended— 
(1) in subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘Not 
later’’ and all that follows through ‘‘2019’’ and in-
serting the following: ‘‘On October 1 of each year 
beginning in 2015 and ending in 2019’’; and 
(2) in subparagraph (B)— 
(A) in clause (iii), by striking ‘‘at each’’ 
and all that follows through the period at the 
end and inserting the following: ‘‘or guidelines 
of the Department with respect to determining 
the ratio of residents to staff supervising resi-
dents.’’; and 
(B) by striking clause (v) and inserting the 
following new clause: 
‘‘(v) Efforts of the Department, as of 
the date of the submittal of the report, to 
recruit and retain medical residents to 
work for the Veterans Health Administra-
tion as full-time employees.’’. 
(h) PROJECT ARCH.—Section 403(j) of the Vet-
erans’ Mental Health and Other Care Improvements Act 
of 2008 (Public Law 110–387; 38 U.S.C. 1703 note) is 
amended— 
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(1) by striking ‘‘In carrying out’’ and inserting 
‘‘Notwithstanding any provision of law relating to 
the use of competitive procedures in entering into 
contracts, in carrying out’’; and 
(2) by inserting ‘‘under this section’’ after 
‘‘make use of contracts entered into’’. 
(i) CLARIFICATION OF APPROVAL OF COURSES OF 
EDUCATION PROVIDED
BY PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS
OF 
HIGHER LEARNING AND IN-STATE TUITION RATE FOR 
VETERANS.—Paragraph (1) of section 3679(c) is amend-
ed to read as follows: 
‘‘(1) Notwithstanding any other provision of this 
chapter and subject to paragraphs (3) through (6), the 
Secretary shall disapprove a course of education provided 
by a public institution of higher learning if the institution 
charges tuition and fees for that course for covered indi-
viduals who are pursuing the course with educational as-
sistance under chapter 30 or 33 of this title while living 
in the State in which the institution is located at a rate 
that is higher than the rate the institution charges for tui-
tion and fees for that course for residents of the State 
in which the institution is located, regardless of the cov-
ered individual’s State of residence.’’. 
Æ 
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