VA Billing Accountability Act 2018-05-21 Passed House amended VA Billing Accountability Act

(Sec. 2) This bill authorizes the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to waive the requirement that a veteran make copayments for medication, hospital care, nursing home care, or medical services if the veteran received copayment notification more than 180 days after the medical service or receipt of medication and such delay was caused by VA error.

In requiring a veteran to make a copayment for medical services, the VA shall notify the veteran within 180 days (18 months in the case of a non-VA facility) of the service. If the VA does not provide such notification, it may not collect the payment unless the veteran is provided with an opportunity to apply for a waiver or establish a payment plan.

The VA shall review and improve its copayment billing internal controls and notification procedures.

]]> 2018-05-18 Reported to House with amendment(s) VA Billing Accountability Act

This bill authorizes the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to waive the requirement that a veteran make copayments for medication, hospital care, nursing home care, or medical services if the veteran received copayment notification more than 180 days after the medical service or receipt of medication and such delay was caused by VA error.

In requiring a veteran to make a copayment for medical services, the VA shall notify the veteran within 180 days (18 months in the case of a non-VA facility) of the service. If the VA does not provide such notification, it may not collect the payment unless the veteran is provided with an opportunity to apply for a waiver or establish a payment plan.

The VA shall review and improve its copayment billing internal controls and notification procedures.

]]> 2017-04-06 Introduced in House VA Billing Accountability Act

This bill authorizes the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to waive the requirement that a veteran make copayments for medications, hospital care, nursing home care, and medical services if:

  • an error committed by the VA or a VA employee was the cause of delaying copayment notification to the veteran, and
  • the veteran received such notification later than 120 days (18 months in the case of a non-VA facility) after the date on which the veteran received the care or services.

In requiring a veteran to make a copayment for care or services provided at a VA or a non-VA medical facility, the VA shall notify the veteran not later than 120 days (18 months in the case of a non-VA facility) after the date on which the veteran received the care or services. If the VA does not provide notification by such date, it may not collect the payment, including through a third-party entity, unless the veteran is provided with:

  • information about applying for a waiver and establishing a payment plan with the VA, and
  • an opportunity to make a waiver or establish a payment plan.

The VA shall review and improve its copayment billing internal controls and notification procedures.

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