VETERANS HEALTH CARE ACT OF 1992
Public Law 102–585, as amended
VETERANS HEALTH CARE ACT OF 1992
585
104–262
Statute Compilation
United States House of Representatives
Office of the Legislative Counsel
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Persian Gulf War Veterans' Health Status Act
Veterans Health Care Act of 1992
446
102
1992-11-04
VETERANS HEALTH CARE ACT OF 1992
[(Public Law 102–585, approved Nov. 4, 1992)]
[As Amended Through P.L. 104–262, Enacted October 09, 1996]
[Currency: This publication is a compilation of the text of Public Law 102–585. It was last amended by the public law listed in the As Amended Through note above and below at the bottom of each page of the pdf version and reflects current law through the date of the enactment of the public law listed at https://www.govinfo.gov/app/collection/comps/]
[Note: While this publication does not represent an official version of any Federal statute, substantial efforts have been made to ensure the accuracy of its contents. The official version of Federal law is found in the United States Statutes at Large and in the United States Code. The legal effect to be given to the Statutes at Large and the United States Code is established by statute (1 U.S.C. 112, 204).]
TITLE II—

HEALTH-CARE SHARING AGREEMENTS BETWEEN DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS AND DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
SEC. 201.
[38 U.S.C. 8111 note]

TEMPORARY EXPANSION OF AUTHORITY FOR SHARING AGREEMENTS.
(a)

Authority.—
The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may enter into an agreement with the Secretary of Defense under this section to expand the availability of health-care sharing arrangements with the Department of Defense under section 8111(c) of title 38, United States Code. Under such an agreement—
(1)
the head of a Department of Veterans Affairs medical facility may enter into agreements under section 8111(d) of that title with (A) the head of a Department of Defense medical facility, (B) with any other official of the Department of Defense responsible for the provision of care under chapter 55 of title 10, United States Code, to persons who are covered beneficiaries under that chapter, in the region of the Department of Veterans Affairs medical facility, or (C) with a contractor of the Department of Defense responsible for the provision of care under chapter 55 of title 10, United States Code, to persons who are covered beneficiaries under that chapter, in the region of the Department of Veterans Affairs medical facility; and
(2)
the term “primary beneficiary” shall be treated as including—
(A)
with respect to the Department of Veterans Affairs, any person who is described in section 1713 of title 38, United States Code; and
(B)
with respect to the Department of Defense, any person who is a covered beneficiary under chapter 55 of title 10, United States Code.
(b)

Use of Funds.—
Any amount received by the Secretary from a non-Federal entity as payment for services provided by the Secretary during a prior fiscal year under an agreement entered into under this section may be obligated by the Secretary during the fiscal year in which the Secretary receives the payment.
SEC. 202.
[38 U.S.C. 8111 note]

REQUIREMENT FOR IMPROVEMENT IN SERVICES FOR VETERANS.
A proposed agreement authorized by section 201 that is entered into by the head of a Department of Veterans Affairs medical facility may take effect only if the Under Secretary for Health of the Department of Veterans Affairs finds, and certifies to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, that implementation of the agreement—
(1)
will result in the improvement of services to eligible veterans at that facility; and
(2)
will not result in the denial of, or a delay in providing, access to care for any veteran at that facility.
SEC. 203.
[38 U.S.C. 8111 note]

EXPANDED SHARING AGREEMENTS WITH DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE.
Under an agreement under section 201, guidelines under section 8111(b) of title 38, United States Code, may be modified to provide that, notwithstanding any other provision of law, any person who is a covered beneficiary under chapter 55 of title 10 and who is furnished care or services by a facility of the Department of Veterans Affairs under an agreement entered into under section 8111 of that title, or who is described in section 1713 of title 38, United States Code, and who is furnished care or services by a facility of the Department of Defense, may be authorized to receive such care or services—
(1)
without regard to any otherwise applicable requirement for the payment of a copayment or deductible; or
(2)
subject to a requirement to pay only part of any such otherwise applicable copayment or deductible, as specified in the guidelines.
SEC. 204.
[38 U.S.C. 8111 note]

EXPIRATION OF AUTHORITY.
[Repealed by section 302(b) of the Veterans' Health Care Eligibility Reform Act of 1996 (Public Law 104–262).]
SEC. 205.
[38 U.S.C. 8111 note]

CONSULTATION WITH VETERANS SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS.
In carrying out this title, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall consult with organizations named in or approved under section 5902 of title 38, United States Code.
SEC. 206.
[38 U.S.C. 8111 note]

ANNUAL REPORT.
[Omitted-Obsolete]
(a)

In General.—
For each of fiscal years 1993 through 1996, the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall include in the annual report of the Secretaries under section 8111(f) of title 38, United States Code, a description of the Secretaries' implementation of this section.
(b)

Additional Matters for Fiscal Year 1996 Report.—
In the report under subsection (a) for fiscal year 1996, the Secretaries shall include the following:
(1)
An assessment of the effect of agreements entered into under section 201 on the delivery of health care to eligible veterans.
(2)
An assessment of the cost savings, if any, associated with provision of services under such agreements to retired members of the Armed Forces, dependents of members or former members of a uniformed service, and beneficiaries under section 1713 of title 38, United States Code.
(3)
Any plans for administrative action, and any recommendations for legislation, that the Secretaries consider appropriate to include in the report.
SEC. 207.
[38 U.S.C. 8111 note]

AUTHORITY TO BILL HEALTH-PLAN CONTRACTS.
(a)

Right To Recover.—
In the case of a primary beneficiary (as described in section 201(a)(2)(B)) who has coverage under a health-plan contract, as defined in section 1729(i)(1)(A) of title 38, United States Code, and who is furnished care or services by a Department medical facility pursuant to this title, the United States shall have the right to recover or collect charges for such care or services from such health-plan contract to the extent that the beneficiary (or the provider of the care or services) would be eligible to receive payment for such care or services from such health-plan contract if the care or services had not been furnished by a department or agency of the United States. Any funds received from such health-plan contract shall be credited to funds that have been allotted to the facility that furnished the care or services.
(b)

Enforcement.—
The right of the United States to recover under such a beneficiary's health-plan contract shall be enforceable in the same manner as that provided by subsections (a)(3), (b), (c)(1), (d), (f), (h), and (i) of section 1729 of title 38, United States Code.