1.Short
title; table of contents
(a)This Act may be cited as the Veterans' Benefits Enhancement Act of
2008
.
(b)The table of contents for this Act is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of
contents.
Sec. 2. References to title 38, United States Code.
TITLE I—EDUCATION MATTERS
Sec. 101. Elimination of reporting requirement for prior
training.
Sec. 102. Modification of waiting period before affirmation of
enrollment in a correspondence course.
Sec. 103. Elimination of change-of-program
application.
Sec. 104. Elimination of wage earning requirement for
self-employment on-job training.
TITLE II—OTHER BENEFITS MATTERS
Sec. 201. Staying of claims.
Sec. 202. Management of Board of Veterans' Appeals
Docket.
Sec. 203. Authorization of memorial headstones and markers for
deceased remarried surviving spouses of veterans.
Sec. 204. Permanent authority for VA to fund contract medical
disability examinations.
Sec. 205. Modification of servicemembers' group life insurance
coverage.
Sec. 206. Permit VA to provide Temporary Residence Assistance
Grants to certain active duty servicemembers.
Sec. 207. Designation of VA Office of Small Business
Programs.
TITLE III—HEALTH CARE MATTERS
Sec. 301. Noninstitutional extended care services.
Sec. 302. Extensions of certain authorities.
Sec. 303. Permanent authority for veterans who participated in
certain chemical and biological testing conducted by the Department of
Defense.
Sec. 304. Repeal of certain annual reporting
requirements.
Sec. 305. Amendments to annual Gulf War research
report.
Sec. 306. Payment for care furnished to CHAMPVA
beneficiaries.
Sec. 307. Payor provisions for care furnished to certain
children of Vietnam veterans.
Sec. 308. Disclosures from certain medical records.
Sec. 309. Provision of health-plan contract information and
Social Security number.
TITLE IV—MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
Sec. 401. Expansion of authority for Department of Veterans
Affairs police officers.
Sec. 402. Uniform allowance for Department of Veterans Affairs
police officers.
Sec. 403. Increase in threshold for major medical facility
leases requiring Congressional approval.
2.References to
title 38, United States CodeExcept as otherwise expressly provided,
whenever in this Act an amendment or repeal is expressed in terms of an
amendment or repeal to a section or other provision, the reference shall be
considered to be made to a section or other provision of title 38, United
States Code.
<enum>I</enum><header>EDUCATION
MATTERS</header>
<section id="idC062832AA7F346369D686E2F1B359B22"><enum>101.</enum><header>Elimination of
reporting requirement for prior training</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 3676(c)(4) is amended by striking
<quote>and the Secretary</quote>.</text>
</section><section id="id5BB180C85B2248638E0DF7EE7725C299"><enum>102.</enum><header>Modification
of waiting period before affirmation of enrollment in a correspondence
course</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 3686(b) is
amended by striking <quote>ten</quote> and inserting
<quote>five</quote>.</text>
</section><section id="idD4333D92D4474B12BD23D763404C6AA8"><enum>103.</enum><header>Elimination of
change-of-program application</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 3691(d) is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="idA4D190AE4EAA4D67A73B5D31D527195A"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by inserting
<quote>(1)</quote> following <quote>another program if—</quote>;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id2F264262A81C426582EE4EF9A21E37CC"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by redesignating
paragraphs (1), (2), (3), and (4) as subparagraphs (A), (B), (C), and
(D);</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idBA515FBC3E9248C494012CF6B8B43EC2"><enum>(3)</enum><text>at the end of
subparagraph (C), as redesignated by paragraph (2) of this section, by striking
<quote>or</quote>; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id0AAF02A03C2D4DBA8E7F98BFEEB25D09"><enum>(4)</enum><text>by striking the
period and inserting “; or</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id3BE13BA275A04D15AA7A61CDBAE7D1EC" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="idDBFCD0CEEA0F4A1D8BD1DEC6FC82B091"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the change from
one program to another is at the same educational institution and that
educational institution finds that the new program is suitable to the veteran's
or person's aptitudes, interests, and abilities as shall be evidenced by its
certification to the Secretary of such veteran's or person's enrollment in the
new program.</text>
</paragraph><quoted-block-continuation-text quoted-block-continuation-text-level="subsection">In the
case of a change of program described in paragraph (2), the veteran or person
will not be required to apply to the Secretary for approval of such
change.</quoted-block-continuation-text><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></section><section id="idF4B1104D49B64F72A4B469C7B7E2B1F7"><enum>104.</enum><header>Elimination of
wage earning requirement for self-employment on-job training</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 3677(b) is amended by adding at the
end the following new paragraph:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id334C759D398D4863B24A5444F4C47154" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="id7B486588D8CB43BF926E262BA31BC21F"><enum>(3)</enum><text>The requirement
for certification under paragraph (1) shall not apply to training described in
section
3452(e)(2).</text>
</paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</section><enum>II</enum><header>OTHER BENEFITS
MATTERS</header>
<section id="id8B141E77011D4EA59DB0293B2F3BA7BA"><enum>201.</enum><header>Staying of
claims</header>
<subsection id="id97C878389F5449E6AD605D8FF53CAA6D"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Chapter 5 is amended by inserting before section 502 the
following new section:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idDFCCBD17452247C7BB602417A349FEE9" style="USC">
<section id="idC6CA86DEE944490D9EBCC9BD37031743"><enum>501A.</enum><header>Staying of
claims</header>
<subsection id="id37AAD81371714210B8BAC8F75B8C7E25"><enum>(a)</enum><text>Notwithstanding
any other provision of this title, the Secretary may temporarily stay the
adjudication of a claim or claims before the Board of Veterans' Appeals or an
agency of original jurisdiction when the Secretary determines that the stay is
necessary to preserve the integrity of a program administered under this
title.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="id0B7A1CFD6407406F8A592B376B369742"><enum>(b)</enum><text>The Secretary
shall issue regulations describing the factors the Secretary will consider in
determining whether and to what extent a stay is warranted.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="id3DB101ECB61C46DE9341F3571BE3D37C"><enum>(c)</enum><text>A claimant or
claimants may petition for review of an action under a regulation prescribed in
accordance with this section. Such review may be sought only in the United
States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, which may set aside such
action if it determines that the action is arbitrary and
capricious.</text>
</subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection id="id50D98913EB6148908C184F6F6303B765"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Clerical
amendment</header><text>The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter
is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 501 the following
new item: <quote>501A. Staying of claims.</quote>.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="id9C2BB84010B04327A4760153B4FC5EC0"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Effective
date</header><text>The provisions of section 501A, as added by subsection (a)
of this section, shall apply to—</text>
<paragraph id="idECD0E388328B42FF8DCAA3B2567A2056"><enum>(1)</enum><text>any claim for
benefits under any law administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs that
is received by the Department of Veterans Affairs on or after the date of
enactment of this Act; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idD9F781639A284F23ADBAB80A0C046305"><enum>(2)</enum><text>any claim for
such benefits that was received by the Department of Veterans Affairs before
the date of enactment of this Act but is not finally adjudicated by the
Department as of that date.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section id="idD08ADB7A315543BCBAE0D719FDB67E18"><enum>202.</enum><header>Management of
Board of Veterans' Appeals Docket</header>
<subsection id="id42F62B2A0C49423888E96A3532CF25CD"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Section 7107(a)(1) is amended by inserting before the
period at the end the following: <quote>, but the Board may consider and decide
a particular case before another case with an earlier docket number if the
earlier case has been stayed, or if a decision on the earlier case has been
delayed for any reason and the later case is fully developed and ready for
decision</quote>.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="idD1DF8F7099D6431F9B12E0E2AA39EBA4"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Effective
date</header><text>The amendment made by subsection (a) of this section shall
apply to—</text>
<paragraph id="idE3CE05D2987A4942A763FA48A32E5E99"><enum>(1)</enum><text>any claim for
benefits under a law administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs that is
received by the Department of Veterans Affairs on or after the date of
enactment of this Act; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id712EB24D321E463DB2C536648A359F92"><enum>(2)</enum><text>any claim for
such benefits that was received by the Department of Veterans Affairs before
the date of enactment of this Act but is not finally adjudicated by the
Department as of that date.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section id="id880057C878E64AF08C575D9AB5B17D9B"><enum>203.</enum><header>Authorization
of memorial headstones and markers for deceased remarried surviving spouses of
veterans</header>
<subsection id="id244C1307B0AC4933883B1E24FCF1F5B3"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Section 2306(b)(4)(B) is amended by striking <quote>an
unremarried surviving spouse whose subsequent remarriage was terminated by
death or divorce</quote> and inserting <quote>a surviving spouse who had a
subsequent remarriage</quote>.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="idDFE0509997FD46BABD1A9FC1D4F31FC4"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Effective
date</header><text>The amendments made by this section shall apply to deaths
occurring on or after the date of the enactment of this Act.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="id2F06ADF0BD1A4D44844DCC64E0C37D0F"><enum>204.</enum><header>Permanent
authority for VA to fund contract medical disability examinations</header>
<subsection id="id213C7DB1D1B44BFCBB0696082CF43461"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Repeal of
expiration of authority To fund contract medical examinations using
appropriated funds</header><text>Section 704 of the Veterans Benefits Act of
2003 (Public Law 108–183; 117 Stat. 2651; 38 U.S.C. 5101 note), is
amended—</text>
<paragraph id="id1B8165838AD6417DA989D75ABE2A2367"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by striking
subsection (c);</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idB9EEF4E224CE489F95BC870B1AD8A783"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by redesignating
subsection (d) as subsection (c); and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id66FE211E55A047F3979D57A860D5F982"><enum>(3)</enum><text>by striking
<quote><header-in-text>Temporary</header-in-text></quote> from the heading of
section 704.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section id="id9E114C3F94D140B28D27334A1EC0E464"><enum>205.</enum><header>Modification
of servicemembers' group life insurance coverage</header>
<subsection id="idF44850ACF4AA4BADBDEC87156BF1E828"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Expansion of
servicemembers' group life insurance To include certain members of individual
ready reserve</header>
<paragraph id="id98C6DC559EC44A81ABA9D8BE1D342A04"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Subparagraph (C) of section 1967(a)(1) is amended by
striking <quote>section 1965(5)(B) of this title</quote> and inserting
<quote>subparagraph (B) or (C) of section 1965(5) of this title</quote>.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id31BF0F5E5A55481B8266F96EA93E2454"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Conforming
amendments</header>
<subparagraph id="id850FC99A989D4D1E94A1D1D7F700FC7C"><enum>(A)</enum><text>Subparagraph (C)
of section 1967(a)(5) is amended by striking <quote>section 1965(5)(B) of this
title</quote> and inserting <quote>subparagraph (B) or (C) of section 1965(5)
of this title</quote>; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idFF98095452BC42658FED53F0800286C3"><enum>(B)</enum><text>Subparagraph (B)
of section 1969(g)(1) is amended by striking <quote>section 1965(5)(B) of this
title</quote> and inserting <quote>subparagraph (B) or (C) of section 1965(5)
of this title</quote>.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id08FF3ED67B9D4F26B046514D67703000"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Reduction in
period of dependents' coverage after member separates</header><text>Section
1968(a)(5)(B)(ii) is amended by striking <quote>120 days after</quote>.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="id837DF9A59ED24E80BB206CC81D8E8BA0"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Authority To
set premiums for ready reservists' spouses</header><text>Section 1969(g)(1)(B)
is amended by striking <quote>(which shall be the same for all such
members)</quote>.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="id1EA07EAF3D08405CBC01E7A7A9756225"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Forfeiture of
veterans' group life insurance</header><text>Section 1973 is amended by
striking <quote>under this subchapter</quote> and inserting <quote>and
Veterans' Group Life Insurance under this subchapter</quote>.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="idAF61369DA50B47A2B78D9AD855DF22AB"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Effective and
applicability dates</header>
<paragraph id="id482BD322BD55416F96AA63DC9D50D440"><enum>(1)</enum><text>The amendments
made by subsection (a) of this section shall take effect on the date of
enactment of this Act.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id02EB02B4262C42BFAD93DE3E75A46364"><enum>(2)</enum><text>The amendment
made by subsection (b) of this section shall apply with respect to
Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance coverage for an insurable dependent of a
member, as defined in section 1965(10) of title 38, United States Code, that
begins on or after the date of enactment of this Act.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id819762FE1AA44DF5892B6C7C5380AA49"><enum>(3)</enum><text>The amendment
made by subsection (c) of this section shall take effect as if enacted on June
5, 2001, immediately after the enactment of the Veterans' Survivor Benefits
Improvements Act of 2001 (Public Law 107–14; 115 Stat. 25).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idCC4FF15915D8439DA101EF6FEF90BA8E"><enum>(4)</enum><text>The amendment
made by subsection (d) of this section shall apply with respect to any act of
mutiny, treason, spying, or desertion committed on or after the date of
enactment of this Act for which a person is found guilty, or with respect to
refusal because of conscientious objections to perform service in, or to wear
the uniform of, the United States Armed Forces on or after the date of
enactment of this Act.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section id="id5B1648A5ED154A9B8AB63051BE90D8BA"><enum>206.</enum><header>Permit VA to
provide Temporary Residence Assistance Grants to certain active duty
servicemembers</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 2101(c)
is amended to read as follows:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id27593C6510FF4B1E94FDB3B7536C8052" style="OLC">
<subsection id="idA75446121BB84E9AB480FA3EC1982844"><enum>(c)</enum><text>The Secretary may
provide assistance under this chapter to a member of the Armed Forces serving
on active duty who is suffering from a disability described in this section if
such disability is the result of an injury incurred or disease contracted in or
aggravated in line of duty in the active military, naval, or air service. Such
assistance shall be provided to the same extent, and subject to the same
limitations, as assistance is provided to veterans under this
chapter.</text>
</subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</section><section id="idC52F8C9BB0FD443E93FBDA0A2BB83057"><enum>207.</enum><header>Designation of
VA Office of Small Business Programs</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The Office of Small Business Programs of the
Department of Veterans Affairs is the office that is established within the
Office of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs under section 15(k) of the Small
Business Act (15 U.S.C. 644(k)). The Director of Small Business Programs is the
head of such office.</text>
</section><enum>III</enum><header>HEALTH CARE
MATTERS</header>
<section id="idE64EA1940B3A47C2818DFECC46769E00"><enum>301.</enum><header>Noninstitutional
extended care services</header>
<subsection id="id51085A00CCF741E9A9FE88BD564E49C3"><enum>(a)</enum><text>Section 1701(10)
is repealed.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="id32B4FC7A100345129FF978BC6B2F9838"><enum>(b)</enum><text>Section 1701(6)
is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="id9059058FAC274F3C882DEBADB3FA5C4E"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by redesignating
subparagraphs (E) and (F) as (F) and (G), respectively; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id646BE0773E094DBBA40C90178925F802"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by adding the
following new subparagraph (E):</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id80128055E003472BB500864C758463B9" style="OLC">
<subparagraph id="id0892BE9617F842CD9902F8536BCF2A5E"><enum>(E)</enum><text>Noninstitutional
extended care services, including alternatives to institutional extended care
which the Secretary may furnish (i) directly, (ii) by contract, or (iii)
(through provision of case management) by another provider or
payor.</text>
</subparagraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section id="id0306E1BB650F49D2BF8FAE4AF2BA642B"><enum>302.</enum><header>Extensions of
certain authorities</header>
<subsection id="id7B3A05B3EBBB4BBF8E848591411EE047"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Nursing home
care</header><text>Subsection (c) of section 1710A is amended by striking
<quote>December 31, 2008</quote> and inserting <quote>December 31,
2013</quote>.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="idA3EC797157FE48FBBF9491A16596F5AD"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Research
corporations</header><text>Section 7368 is amended by striking <quote>December
31, 2008</quote> and inserting <quote>December 31, 2013</quote>.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="idDCD7AF155F6B46A9BB498269B6E5D913"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Recovery
audits</header><text>Section 1703(d) is amended in paragraph (4) by striking
<quote>September 30, 2008</quote> and inserting <quote>September 30,
2013</quote>.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="idB6D5F539E0684BBE9235A0B8BEB99D3C"><enum>303.</enum><header>Permanent
authority for veterans who participated in certain chemical and biological
testing conducted by the Department of Defense</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Subsection (e) of section 1710 is amended by
striking paragraph (3)(D).</text>
</section><section id="id39C8B64C5A3840799369360A0EDA77EA"><enum>304.</enum><header>Repeal of
certain annual reporting requirements</header>
<subsection id="id1BE9AD16ED294A89B639692B9125D7B4"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Nurse pay
report</header><text>Section 7451 is amended by—</text>
<paragraph id="id0AFD59A8F8E24864B2A9BFFB2644DBF8"><enum>(1)</enum><text>striking
subsection (f); and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idEA7C209D98BE41D9B5B37C95CD8FC0E0"><enum>(2)</enum><text>redesignating
subsection (g) as subsection (f).</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idBB1763EF165F45DEA173E39F5C8908B0"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Long-term
planning report</header><text>Section 8107 is repealed.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="idAF1F03AAC11748C48818F7961E0ED6DE"><enum>305.</enum><header>Amendments to
annual Gulf War research report</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 707 of the Persian Gulf War
Veterans' Health Status Act (title VII of Public Law 102–585; 106 Stat. 4943;
38 U.S.C. 527 note) is amended in subsection (c)(1), by striking <quote>Not
later than March 1 of each year</quote> and inserting <quote>Not later than
July 1, 2008, and July 1 of each of the five following years</quote>.</text>
</section><section id="id51633127A0594238AF58434349F00845"><enum>306.</enum><header>Payment for
care furnished to CHAMPVA beneficiaries</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 1781 is amended at the end by adding
the following new subsection:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id3C969D636AEC443ABA8CB006F7BEF8C5" style="OLC">
<subsection id="id0419B1A556554331A6A02B2AAFE17EF9"><enum>(e)</enum><text>Payment by the
Secretary under this section on behalf of a covered beneficiary for medical
care shall constitute payment in full and extinguish any liability on the part
of the beneficiary for that
care.</text>
</subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</section><section id="idE012F2F9B7304270BE4B51F53035EF2E"><enum>307.</enum><header>Payor
provisions for care furnished to certain children of Vietnam veterans</header>
<subsection id="idB7F0DA4D83DE42A4AC2A49EB323E73A8"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Children of
Vietnam veterans born with Spina Bifida</header><text>Section 1803 is
amended—</text>
<paragraph id="id243C3B87AC11477EB80985F813EE6D3F"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by redesignating
subsection (c) as (d); and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idF5A13ED164DF4686B6BA2585E9F01877"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by inserting new
subsection (c) as follows:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id1A4BB5C488E34C0893D7F9442AE5CD40" style="OLC">
<subsection id="id376DC77D3B4343FB81850B4703808E91"><enum>(c)</enum><text>Where payment by
the Secretary under this section is less than the amount of the charges billed,
the health care provider or agent of the health care provider may seek payment
for the difference between the amount billed and the amount paid by the
Secretary from a responsible third party to the extent that the provider or
agent thereof would be eligible to receive payment for such care or services
from such third party, but—</text>
<paragraph id="id27E9135178704A9182F96862DB4CE891"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the health care
provider or agent for the health care provider may not impose any additional
charge on the beneficiary who received the medical care, or the family of such
beneficiary, for any service or item for which the Secretary has made payment
under this section;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id400383D8F9EB4CE59EBCC0B527E036C7"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the total amount
of payment a provider or agent of the provider may receive for care and
services furnished under this section may not exceed the amount billed to the
Secretary; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idB6F78F603DF245B0BCF3CAE15CEA317A"><enum>(3)</enum><text>the Secretary,
upon request, shall disclose to such third party information received for the
purposes of carrying out this
section.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id645FE8FB9B6F4B4BB673D87CD8F1776B"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Children of
women Vietnam veterans born with birth defects</header><text>Section 1813 is
amended—</text>
<paragraph id="idC1807CB1B1CF4EFFB91E2EF05183CBE1"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by redesignating
subsection (c) as subsection (d); and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idC8481B2D0F644F178FD27702C25EDF17"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by inserting new
subsection (c) as follows:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idF620378A2F9C483FBCFAA4FD37B33275" style="OLC">
<subsection id="idFC635E9FE891406099E6BFC92FFDA517"><enum>(c)</enum><text>Where payment by
the Secretary under this section is less than the amount of the charges billed,
the health care provider or agent of the health care provider may seek payment
for the difference between the amount billed and the amount paid by the
Secretary from a responsible third party to the extent that the health care
provider or agent thereof would be eligible to receive payment for such care or
services from such third party, but—</text>
<paragraph id="id3E95B40853D34FC18AC292AAB284B2F0"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the health care
provider or agent for the health care provider may not impose any additional
charge on the beneficiary who received medical care, or the family of such
beneficiary, for any service or item for which the Secretary has made payment
under this section;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id4A0A1750527D41CCAEE66B1C15F537D4"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the total amount
of payment a provider or agent of the provider may receive for care and
services furnished under this section may not exceed the amount billed to the
Secretary; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id9C9D9062117F4D10863BC14AE1799D68"><enum>(3)</enum><text>the Secretary,
upon request, shall disclose to such third party information received for the
purposes of carrying out this
section.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section id="id23FBC006F764415C981D113F4C800ED6"><enum>308.</enum><header>Disclosures
from certain medical records</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 7332(b)(2) of such title is amended
by adding at the end thereof the following new subparagraph:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id1DABC16040714CE99A311C6FBD59BA4D" style="OLC">
<subparagraph id="id520EFAB7618F428EA1AE91D13FF9BD90"><enum>(F)</enum><clause commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="id1610B955EEAB431290D08C2099767440"><enum>(i)</enum><text>To a representative of
a patient who lacks decision-making capacity, when a practitioner deems the
content of the given record necessary for that representative to make an
informed decision regarding the patient's treatment.</text>
</clause><clause id="id62CC3D2CF8D4476392496202102A6493" indent="up1"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>In this subparagraph, the term
<term>representative</term> means an individual, organization or other body
authorized under section 7331 of this title and its implementing regulations to
give informed consent on behalf of a patient who lacks decision-making
capacity.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</section><section id="id7EA6E45F8D4D42EEBE67A0A859368B32"><enum>309.</enum><header>Provision of
health-plan contract information and Social Security number</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Subchapter I of chapter 17 of title 38,
United States Code, is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="idC3F858EABD544A4BABEF7961C4D14EB1"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by adding at the
end the following new section:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id6DB96B29BC7046B78D213715BF3C05A1" style="USC">
<section id="idFB224EDC45C6448CA13A7A13A0AF14D1"><enum>1709.</enum><header>Provision of
health-plan contract information and Social Security number</header>
<subsection id="idFF571AF8DD714E88A421067CC414DA07"><enum>(a)</enum><text>Any individual
who applies for or is in receipt of any hospital, nursing home, or domiciliary
care; medical, rehabilitative, or preventive health services; or other medical
care under laws administered by the Secretary shall, at the time of such
application, or otherwise when requested by the Secretary, furnish the
Secretary with such current information as the Secretary may require to
identify any health-plan contract, as defined in section 1729(i)(1) of this
title, under which such individual is covered, to include, as applicable, the
name, address, and telephone number of such health-plan contract; the name of
the individual's spouse, if the individual's coverage is under the spouse's
health-plan contract; the plan number, and the plan's group code.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="idE8E1DAD8588A4CD5B04870E73DDDA073"><enum>(b)</enum><text>Any individual
who applies for or is in receipt of any hospital, nursing home, or domiciliary
care; medical, rehabilitative, or preventive health services; or other medical
care and services under laws administered by the Secretary shall, at the time
of such application, or otherwise when requested by the Secretary, furnish the
Secretary with the individual's Social Security number and the Social Security
number of any dependent or Department of Veterans Affairs' beneficiary on whose
behalf, or based upon whom, such individual applies for or is in receipt of
such benefit. This subsection does not require an individual to furnish the
Secretary with a Social Security number for any individual to whom a Social
Security number has not been assigned.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="id6DED6057EB7548059B7995B78A850397"><enum>(c)</enum><text>The Secretary
shall deny the individual's application for, or may terminate the individual's
enrollment in, the system of patient enrollment established by the Secretary
under section 1705 of this title, if the individual does not provide the Social
Security number required or requested to be furnished pursuant to subsection
(b) of this section. The Secretary, following such denial or termination, may,
upon receipt of the information required or requested under subsection (b),
approve the individual's application or reinstate the individual's enrollment
(if otherwise in order), for such medical care and services provided on and
after the date of such receipt of information.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="idFC65611A79BA42C485F39A0BFE48B1BC"><enum>(d)</enum><text>Nothing in this
section shall be construed as authority to deny medical care and treatment to
an individual in a medical emergency.</text>
</subsection></section><after-quoted-block>;
and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id30475F5E38A741968AB771196D52A6A5"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by amending the
table of sections for such subchapter by adding at the end thereof the
following new item: <quote>§ 1709. Provision of health-plan contract
information and Social Security number.</quote>.</text>
</paragraph></section><enum>IV</enum><header>MISCELLANEOUS
PROVISIONS</header>
<section id="id0807B702C1CC4FA2AC9FF1D987170AC4"><enum>401.</enum><header>Expansion of
authority for Department of Veterans Affairs police officers</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 902 is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="idDBAD846262FD494588C375B5B6ECB595"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in subsection
(a)—</text>
<subparagraph id="idF0F4BD4868CF44D6AC2FDC6FA7738B00"><enum>(A)</enum><text>by amending
paragraph (1) to read as follows:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idBC147EE8F8EA4F7382DBC6057BA87BFB" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="idAF279E1DB54144DFAF31B289F3CD2347"><enum>(1)</enum><text>Employees of the
Department who are Department police officers shall, with respect to acts
occurring on Department property—</text>
<subparagraph id="id24B39279371A478A9AE30052C1491850"><enum>(A)</enum><text>enforce Federal
laws;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idA7BE165CCED348B5B3E14C896F5CDDC8"><enum>(B)</enum><text>enforce the rules
prescribed under section 901 of this title;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id18A6BE088E1D4DF0A181FC7E2AEDCCDE"><enum>(C)</enum><text>enforce traffic
and motor vehicle laws of a State or local government within the jurisdiction
of which such Department property is located as authorized by an express grant
of authority under applicable State or local law. Any such enforcement shall be
by issuance of a citation for violation of such law;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idCA0BDE244C46416F9F08BF187D6CC026"><enum>(D)</enum><text>carry the
appropriate VA-issued weapons, including firearms, while off Department
property in an official capacity or while in an official travel status;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idF9D3FF6D0C024DB0BFDA42E5F2B82530"><enum>(E)</enum><text>conduct
investigations, on and off Department property, of offenses that may have been
committed on property under the original jurisdiction of VA, consistent with
agreements or other consultation with affected local, State, or Federal law
enforcement agencies; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id478F553CEB4F4789942D5D029BD4A1F5"><enum>(F)</enum><text>carry out, as
needed and appropriate, the duties described in subparagraphs (A)–(E) of this
subsection when engaged in duties authorized by other Federal
statutes.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>;
and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id4DD4449A90194C43A431AF7506461732"><enum>(B)</enum><text>by striking
paragraph (2) and renumbering paragraph (3) as paragraph (2) and adding
<quote>, and on any arrest warrant issued by competent judicial
authority</quote> before the period; and</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idFA7FABD2EFCC400C87E901346C15A89C"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by amending
subsection (c) to read:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idF94AD7354E1E4A72A08E49E60C5D3DAB" style="OLC">
<subsection id="id8325066659AC47619FCD10CAE733C47A"><enum>(c)</enum><text>The powers
granted to Department police officers designated under this section shall be
exercised in accordance with guidelines approved by the Secretary and the
Attorney
General.</text>
</subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></section><section id="idF30EADBBCC33485BB10DA932693B07FB"><enum>402.</enum><header>Uniform
allowance for Department of Veterans Affairs police officers</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 903 is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="id329EAA55356F4F8085FE27B90BAA5920"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by striking the
matter in subsection (b) and inserting:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id36470F63397948BDB071F2DFFF4A5B71" style="OLC">
<subsection id="idA0F78436C0CA45D4BAE94ED91D43DF51"><enum>(b)</enum><text>The amount of the
allowance that the Secretary may pay under this section will be the lesser
of—</text>
<paragraph id="id04CA1C35C8574C3F809F281F752998D0"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the amount
currently allowed as prescribed by the Office of Personnel Management;
or</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id0DBDA6394D50474E99FF3CF065392A53"><enum>(2)</enum><text>estimated costs
or actual costs as determined by periodic surveys conducted by the
Department.</text>
</paragraph><continuation-text continuation-text-level="subsection">During
any fiscal year no officer will receive more than the amount established under
this subsection.</continuation-text></subsection><after-quoted-block>;
and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idE5CBC0D0AC3A48FAA24F1EFDFCD15742"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by striking the
matter in subsection (c) and inserting:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idC33117C121484A3C9C65FDE06EF96B21" style="OLC">
<subsection id="idC566F5AB55584AAC9E8BEA91B1F5D6C0"><enum>(c)</enum><text>The allowance
established under subsection (b) shall be paid at the beginning of a Department
police officer's employment for those appointed on or after October 1, 2008. In
the case of any other Department police officer, an allowance in the amount
established under subsection (b) shall be paid upon the request of the
officer.</text>
</subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></section><section id="id91B3CD3DA1A64BB79F50C94E2684C1C6"><enum>403.</enum><header>Increase in
threshold for major medical facility leases requiring Congressional
approval</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 8104(a)(3)(B)
is amended by striking <quote>$600,000</quote> and inserting
<quote>$1,000,000</quote>.</text>
</section>