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
PL 115-26 (S.544), enacted 04/19/2017

131 STAT. 129 
PUBLIC LAW 115–26—APR. 19, 2017 
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 Account-
ability 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 HEALTH- 
CARE PLAN’’ and inserting ‘‘RESPONSIBILITY FOR COSTS OF CER-
TAIN 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] 
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131 STAT. 130 
PUBLIC LAW 115–26—APR. 19, 2017 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—S. 544 (H.R. 369): 
HOUSE REPORTS: No. 115–65 (Comm. on Veterans’ Affairs) accompanying 
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. 
‘‘(B) USE OF AMOUNTS.—Amounts collected by the Sec-
retary 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 enti-
ties 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. 
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