[Congressional Bills 107th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5392 Introduced in House (IH)]







107th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 5392

  To amend title 38, United States Code, to enable the Department of 
Veterans Affairs to recover costs of medical care from third parties in 
 the same manner as if the health care system of the Department were a 
                    preferred provider organization.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 17, 2002

  Mr. Smith of New Jersey (for himself and Mr. Evans) introduced the 
   following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' 
                                Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To amend title 38, United States Code, to enable the Department of 
Veterans Affairs to recover costs of medical care from third parties in 
 the same manner as if the health care system of the Department were a 
                    preferred provider organization.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. AUTHORITY FOR DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS TO RECOVER 
              MEDICAL COSTS FROM THIRD-PARTY PROVIDERS AS IF IT IS A 
              PREFERRED PROVIDER ORGANIZATION.

    (a) Authority.--Section 1729(f) of title 38, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following new sentence: ``The absence 
of a participation agreement or other contractual arrangement entered 
into by the Secretary under a health-plan contract or with a third 
party that is a preferred provider organization may not be used, or 
operate to, prevent, or reduce the amount of, any such recovery or 
collection by the United States.''.
    (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) shall 
apply with respect to care and services provided under chapter 17 of 
title 38, United States Code, on and after the date of the enactment of 
this Act.
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