[United States Statutes at Large, Volume 131, 115th Congress, 1st Session]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


Public Law 115-26
115th Congress

An Act


 
To amend the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 to
modify the termination date for the Veterans Choice Program, 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. MODIFICATION OF TERMINATION DATE FOR VETERANS CHOICE
PROGRAM.

Section 101(p)(2) of the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability
Act of 2014 (Public Law 113-146; 38 U.S.C. 1701 note) is amended by
striking ``, or the date that is 3 years after the date of the enactment
of this Act, whichever occurs first''.
SEC. 2. ELIMINATION OF REQUIREMENT TO ACT AS SECONDARY PAYER FOR
CARE RELATING TO NON-SERVICE-CONNECTED
DISABILITIES AND RECOVERY OF COSTS FOR CERTAIN
CARE UNDER CHOICE PROGRAM.

(a) In General.--Section 101(e) of the Veterans Access, Choice, and
Accountability Act of 2014 (Public Law 113-146; 38 U.S.C. 1701 note) is
amended--
(1) in the subsection heading, by striking ``Other Health-
care Plan'' and inserting ``Responsibility for Costs of Certain
Care'';
(2) in paragraph (1), in the paragraph heading, by striking
``to secretary'' and inserting ``on health-care plans'';
(3) by striking paragraphs (2) and (3);
(4) by redesignating paragraph (4) as paragraph (2); and
(5) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
``(3) Recovery of costs for certain care.--
``(A) In general.--In any case in which an eligible
veteran is furnished hospital care or medical services
under this section for a non-service-connected
disability described in subsection (a)(2) of section
1729 of title 38, United States Code, or for a condition
for which recovery is authorized or with respect to
which the United States is deemed to be a third party
beneficiary under Public Law 87-693, commonly known as
the `Federal Medical Care Recovery Act' (42 U.S.C. 2651
et seq.), the Secretary shall recover or collect from a
third party (as defined in subsection (i) of such
section 1729) reasonable charges for such care or
services to the extent that the veteran (or the provider
of the care or services) would be eligible to receive
payment for such care or services from such third party
if the care or services had not been furnished by a
department or agency of the United States.

[[Page 130]]

``(B) Use of amounts.--Amounts collected by the
Secretary under subparagraph (A) shall be deposited in
the Medical Community Care account of the Department.
Amounts so deposited shall remain available until
expended.''.

(b) Conforming Amendment.--Paragraph (1) of such section is amended
by striking ``paragraph (4)'' and inserting ``paragraph (2)''.
SEC. 3. AUTHORITY TO DISCLOSE CERTAIN MEDICAL RECORDS OF VETERANS
WHO RECEIVE NON-DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
HEALTH CARE.

Section 7332(b)(2) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by
adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
``(H)(i) To a non-Department entity (including private
entities and other Federal agencies) that provides hospital care
or medical services to veterans as authorized by the Secretary.
``(ii) An entity to which a record is disclosed under this
subparagraph may not redisclose or use such record for a purpose
other than that for which the disclosure was made.''.

Approved April 19, 2017.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--S. 544 (H.R. 369):
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HOUSE REPORTS: No. 115-65 (Comm. on Veterans' Affairs) accompanying
H.R. 369.
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 163 (2017):
Apr. 3, considered and passed Senate.
Apr. 5, considered and passed House.
DAILY COMPILATION OF PRESIDENTIAL DOCUMENTS (2017):
Apr. 19, Presidential remarks.