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.

Bill: 115-s-544
Sponsor: Sen. Tester, Jon [D-MT]
Introduced: 2017-03-07 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Disability and paralysis
Health care coverage and access
Health information and medical records
Hospital care
Veterans' medical care

Summary:
action_date: 2017-03-07
text: 
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. 
 
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.
 
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.

action_date: 2017-04-03
text: 
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)
 
 (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, 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.

action_date: 2017-04-05
text: 
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The expanded summary of the Senate passed version is repeated here.)
 
(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, 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.

action_date: 2017-04-19
text: 
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The expanded summary of the Senate passed version is repeated here.)
 
(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, 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.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-04-19
text: Signed by President.
action_date: 2017-04-19
text: Signed by President.
action_date: 2017-04-07
text: Presented to President.
action_date: 2017-04-07
text: Presented to President.
action_date: 2017-04-05
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2017-04-05
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H2722)
action_date: 2017-04-05
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H2722)
action_date: 2017-04-05
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 544.
action_date: 2017-04-05
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H2722-2726)
action_date: 2017-04-05
text: Mr. Roe (TN) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
action_date: 2017-04-03
text: Held at the desk.
action_date: 2017-04-03
text: Received in the House.
action_date: 2017-04-03
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2017-04-03
text: Passed Senate without amendment by Voice Vote. (text: CR S2163)
action_date: 2017-04-03
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Voice Vote.(text: CR S2163)
action_date: 2017-04-03
text: Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs discharged by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S2163-2164)
action_date: 2017-04-03
text: Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs discharged by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S2163-2164)
action_date: 2017-03-07
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2017-03-07
text: Introduced in Senate

Enacted as: number: 115-26