[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 106 (Wednesday, June 25, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1353]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




INTRODUCTION OF THE VETERANS REVENUE ENHANCEMENT ACT OF 2008, H.R. 6366

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                            HON. STEVE BUYER

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 25, 2008

  Mr. BUYER. Madam Speaker, I am introducing the Veterans Revenue 
Enhancement Act of 2008, which would direct the Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs to establish today not more than seven consolidated patient 
accounting centers.
  The concept of the Consolidated Patient Accounting Center, also known 
as CPAC, was included as a demonstration project in the Conference 
Report, House Report 109-95 and Conference Report 109-305, in 2005 
accompanying H.R. 2528, requiring the Department of Veterans Affairs, 
VA, to initiate a revenue improvement demonstration project within 60 
days after enactment of the bill, Public Law 109-114. The VA followed 
the recommendations in the report, and created the Mid-Atlantic 
Consolidated Patient Accounting Center demonstration project located in 
Asheville, North Carolina.
  A recent GAO report reiterates previous findings that third party 
billing and collection processes at the Department continue to be 
ineffective and limit the revenue received by VA from third party 
insurance companies. Hundreds of millions of dollars continue to go 
uncollected, dollars that could be used to further improve the quality 
and quantity of veterans' health care.
  With the establishment by VA of the Mid-Atlantic Consolidated Patient 
Accounting Center in Asheville, North Carolina, the collection of third 
party revenues has improved significantly at the medical centers in 
VISN 6. By implementing best practices, a standardized revenue cycle 
for business processes and training of personnel, the majority of the 
GAO report recommendations on maximizing third party revenue 
collections have been met.
  The demonstration project has proven to be very successful in 
enhancing the revenue of the department by more than $12.5 million in 
increased collections in FY 2007 and $6.5 million so far in FY 2008 to 
an overall $19 million total. Building on this success, my legislation 
would permit the VA to continue this successful venture at the Mid-
Atlantic project in Asheville, North Carolina, and direct the Secretary 
to establish an additional six centers throughout the country in the 
next five years.
  I urge my colleagues to support the Veterans Revenue Enhancement Act 
of 2008.

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