[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 4217 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 4217
To amend title 38, United States Code, to eliminate copayments by the
Department of Veterans Affairs for preventive health services and
medicines relating to preventive health services, and for other
purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
March 26, 2026
Ms. Duckworth (for herself and Ms. Collins) introduced the following
bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans'
Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend title 38, United States Code, to eliminate copayments by the
Department of Veterans Affairs for preventive health services and
medicines relating to preventive health services, 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. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Copay Fairness for Veterans Act of
2026''.
SEC. 2. IMPROVEMENT TO PREVENTIVE HEALTH SERVICES FURNISHED BY
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.
(a) Elimination of Copayments.--
(1) Medication.--Section 1722A(a)(4) of title 38, United
States Code, is amended--
(A) by striking ``to opioid antagonists'' and
inserting ``to--
``(A) opioid antagonists'';
(B) by striking the period at the end and inserting
``; or''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following new
subparagraph:
``(B) medication, including over-the-counter medication,
that is or is part of preventive health services.''.
(2) Hospital care and medical services.--Section 1710 of
such title is amended--
(A) in subsection (f)--
(i) by redesignating paragraph (5) as
paragraph (6); and
(ii) by inserting after paragraph (4) the
following new paragraph (5):
``(5) A veteran shall not be liable to the United States under this
subsection for any amounts for preventive health services the veteran
receives during the course of hospital care or nursing home care
provided to the veteran.''; and
(B) in subsection (g)(3), by adding at the end the
following new subparagraph:
``(C) Preventive health services.''.
(3) Walk-in care.--Section 1725A(f)(1) of such title is
amended by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
``(D) An eligible veteran shall not be required to pay the United
States a copayment for preventive health services furnished under this
section.''.
(4) Care for survivors and dependents.--Section 1781 of
such title is amended by adding at the end the following new
subsection:
``(f) No individual covered under subsection (a) shall be required
to pay the United States a copayment for preventive health services
furnished under this section.''.
(b) Definitions.--Section 1701(9) of such title is amended--
(1) by amending subparagraph (G) to read as follows:
``(G) immunizations against infectious diseases,
including each immunization--
``(i) on the recommended adult immunization
schedule at the time such immunization is
indicated on that schedule;
``(ii) that has in effect a recommendation
from the Advisory Committee on Immunization
Practices of the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention with respect to the individual
receiving the immunization; or
``(iii) that is recommended by the largest
single-discipline professional organization for
the relevant field or a major labor or
professional organization that exclusively
represents the relevant clinical professional,
specialty, or disorder;''.
(2) in subparagraph (K), by striking ``; and'' and
inserting a semicolon;
(3) by redesignating subparagraph (L) as subparagraph (N);
and
(4) by inserting after subparagraph (K) the following new
subparagraphs:
``(L) evidence-based items or services that--
``(i) have in effect a rating of `A' or `B'
in the current recommendations of the United
States Preventive Services Task Force; or
``(ii) are recommended by the largest
single-discipline professional organization for
the relevant field or a major labor or
professional organization that exclusively
represents the relevant clinical professional,
specialty, or disorder;
``(M) with respect to preventive care, screenings,
and contraceptive services, such services shall
include, at minimum--
``(i) screening for anxiety, breast cancer,
cervical cancer, human immunodeficiency virus
infection, intimate partner and domestic
violence, diabetes in and after pregnancy, and
urinary incontinence;
``(ii) counseling for intimate partner and
domestic violence, and sexually transmitted
infections;
``(iii) breastfeeding services and
supplies;
``(iv) contraception, including--
``(I) any drug, device, or
biological product intended for use in
the prevention of pregnancy, whether
specifically intended to prevent
pregnancy or for other health needs,
that is approved, cleared, authorized,
or licensed under section 505, 510(k),
513(f)(2), 515, or 564 of the Federal
Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C.
355, 360(k), 360c(f)(2), 360e, 360bbb-
3) or section 351 of the Public Health
Service Act (42 U.S.C. 262);
``(II) any services related to
providing the safe and effective use of
such drug, device, or product; and
``(III) any related services
approved, granted, or cleared by the
Food and Drug Administration;
``(v) obesity prevention in midlife women;
and
``(vi) well-woman preventative visits;
and''.
(c) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this section or the
amendments made by this section shall be construed to--
(1) remove preventive health services, including
medications, from such services and medications for which a
veteran would be exempt from paying the United States a
copayment; or
(2) prevent coverage under the laws administered by the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs of preventive health services,
screenings, and contraceptive services, if such preventive
health services, screenings, and contraceptive services are
provided in accordance with evidence-based medical standards of
care, which may include those recommendations provided for in
the Preventive Services Guidelines of the Health Resources and
Services Administration.
(d) Effective Date.--This section and the amendments made by this
section shall take effect on the date that is 180 days after the date
of the enactment of this Act.
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