[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 123 (Monday, July 30, 2007)]
[House]
[Pages H8897-H8898]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




PROHIBITION ON COLLECTION OF COPAYMENTS FOR ALL HOSPICE CARE FURNISHED 
                   BY DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

  Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 2623) to amend title 38, United States Code, to prohibit the 
collection of copayments for all hospice care furnished by the 
Department of Veterans Affairs, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows

                               H.R. 2623

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

     SECTION 1. PROHIBITION ON COLLECTION OF COPAYMENTS FOR ALL 
                   HOSPICE CARE FURNISHED BY DEPARTMENT OF 
                   VETERANS AFFAIRS.

       Title 38, United States Code, is amended--
       (1) in section 1710(f)(1), by inserting ``(except if such 
     care constitutes hospice care)'' after ``nursing home care'';

[[Page H8898]]

       (2) in section 1710(g)(1), by inserting ``(except if such 
     services constitute hospice care)'' after ``medical 
     services''; and
       (3) in section 1710B(c)(2), by striking subparagraph (B) 
     and inserting after subparagraph (A) the following new 
     subparagraph (B):
       ``(B) to a veteran being furnished inpatient or outpatient 
     hospice care by the Department; or''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Filner) and the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Miller) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California
  Mr. FILNER. I thank Mr. Miller for bringing us this bill, because 
working with Mr. Michaud of Maine, we have an important piece of 
legislation that most people would have thought dealt with a problem 
that didn't exist.
  Mr. Speaker, hospice and palliative care is a continuum of comfort-
oriented and supportive services provided across settings, including 
hospitals, extended facilities, outpatient clinics and private 
residences. The VA offers a complement of hospice and palliative care 
options as part of a comprehensive health care benefit of provided to 
all veterans who are enrolled in our system.
  Under current law, a veteran receiving hospice care in a nursing home 
is exempt from any applicable copayments. However, if the hospice care 
is provided in any other setting, such as an acute-care hospital or at 
home, the veteran may be subject to an in-patient or out-patient 
primary care copayment. This policy penalizes a veteran who chooses to 
remain at home for their hospice care or who, out of medical necessity, 
receives hospice care in an acute care setting.
  Mr. Miller recognizes this injustice, and through H.R. 2623, corrects 
the inequity by exempting all hospice care provided through VA from 
copayment requirements. It would also align VA with the Medicare 
program, which does not impose copayments for hospice care. At the end 
of life, veterans should not have to worry about paying for the comfort 
that the hospice care provides.
  It's the right thing to do, and I am pleased that my colleague from 
Florida has taken leadership on this
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. MILLER of Florida. I thank the chairman again for his willingness 
to quickly move this legislation to the floor.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2623, as amended, is a bill that I am a sponsor of. 
It prohibits the collection of copayments for all hospice care 
furnished by the Department of Veterans Affairs.
  Hospice and palliative care is a continuum of comfort-oriented and 
supportive services provided across settings, including hospitals, 
extended care facilities, as the chairman said, outpatient clinics, and 
private residences. Under current law, a veteran receiving care in a 
nursing home is exempt from any copay. However, if they choose to take 
that care in their own home or in an acute-care facility, they could be 
charged a copayment. VA's current policy would penalize a veteran who 
chooses to remain in their own home for their end-of-life care or, out 
of medical necessity, receives their care in an acute-care setting.
  The bipartisan support of this bill is greatly appreciated. I urge my 
colleagues to join me in support of this bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.


                             General Leave

  Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and 
include extraneous material on H.R. 2623, as amended.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from California?
  There was no objection
  Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, once again, I would state that with 
bipartisan working arrangements we have brought forward a package of 
bills today from the Veterans Committee which deals not only with our 
older veterans, but with our returning veterans from Iraq and 
Afghanistan, and that's what we will continue to do.
  I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 2623, as amended
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Filner) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 2623, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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