[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6049 Introduced in House (IH)]








109th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 6049

To amend section 1729 of title 38, United States Code, to eliminate the 
 authorization for the United States to recover or collect from health 
                     plans, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 8, 2006

Mr. LaTourette introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
                     Committee on Veterans' Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To amend section 1729 of title 38, United States Code, to eliminate the 
 authorization for the United States to recover or collect from health 
                     plans, 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. ELIMINATION OF AUTHORITY TO RECOVER OR COLLECT FROM HEALTH 
              PLANS.

    (a) Amendments in General.--Section 1729 of title 38, United States 
Code, is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a), by striking paragraphs (2)(D), 
        (2)(E), and (3);
            (2) in subsection (c), by striking paragraph (2)(B);
            (3) by striking subsection (h); and
            (4) in subsection (i), by striking paragraphs (1) and 
        (3)(D).
    (b) Technical Amendments.--
            (1) Section 1729 of title 38, United States Code, is 
        amended--
                    (A) in subsection (a)(2)(B), by adding ``or'' at 
                the end;
                    (B) in subsection (a)(2)(C), by striking the 
                semicolon at the end and inserting a period;
                    (C) in subsection (c)(2), by redesignating 
                subparagraph (C) as subparagraph (B);
                    (D) in subsection (i)(3)(B), by adding ``or'' at 
                the end;
                    (E) in subsection (i)(3)(C) by striking the 
                semicolon at the end and inserting a period;
                    (F) in subsection (i), by redesignating paragraphs 
                (2) and (3) as paragraphs (1) and (2), respectively; 
                and
                    (G) by redesignating subsection (i) as subsection 
                (g).
            (2) Subsection (d)(4)(B) of section 1781 of title 38, 
        United States Code, is amended to read as follows:
    ``(B) The term `third party' means--
            ``(i) a State or political subdivision of a State;
            ``(ii) an employer or an employer's insurance carrier;
            ``(iii) an automobile accident reparations insurance 
        carrier; or
            ``(iv) a person obligated to provide, or to pay the 
        expenses of, health services under a health-plan contract.''.
            (3) Subsection (d)(4) of section 1781 of title 38, United 
        States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new 
        subparagraph:
                    ``(C)(i) For purposes of subparagraph (B), the term 
                `health-plan contract' means an insurance policy or 
                contract, medical or hospital service agreement, 
                membership or subscription contract, or similar 
                arrangement, under which health services for 
                individuals are provided or the expenses of such 
                services are paid.
                            ``(ii) Such term does not include--
                                    ``(I) an insurance program 
                                described in section 1811 of the Social 
                                Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395c) or 
                                established by section 1831 of such Act 
                                (42 U.S.C. 1395j);
                                    ``(II) a State plan for medical 
                                assistance approved under title XIX of 
                                such Act (42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.);
                                    ``(III) a workers' compensation law 
                                or plan described in subparagraph (A) 
                                of subsection (a)(2) of section 1729 of 
                                this title; or
                                    ``(IV) a program, plan, or policy 
                                under a law described in subparagraph 
                                (B) or (C) of such subsection.''.

SEC. 2. ABILITY TO RECOVER OR COLLECT ON EXISTING CLAIMS.

    The amendments made by this Act shall not effect the right of the 
United States to recover or collect reasonable charges for care or 
services provided before the date of enactment of this Act if such care 
or services were recoverable or collectable when performed.
                                 <all>