H.R. 1644: Copay Fairness for Veterans Act

This bill, known as the Copay Fairness for Veterans Act, proposes several amendments to the existing laws governing health care services for veterans under the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The key aspects of the bill are as follows:

Elimination of Copayments for Preventive Health Services

The bill aims to eliminate copayments that veterans currently have to pay for:

• Medications related to preventive health services: The bill specifies that veterans will no longer be required to pay copayments for medications that are part of a preventive health service.
• Hospital care and medical services: It intends to remove copayments for any preventive health services provided in hospitals or through medical services at the VA.

Definition of Preventive Health Services

The bill includes a definition of what constitutes preventive health services, which consists of:

• Evidence-based items or services: These are items or services rated "A" or "B" by the United States Preventive Services Task Force.
• Immunizations: Vaccines recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
• Women's preventive services: Including preventive care, screenings, and contraceptives as outlined by the Health Resources and Services Administration's Preventive Services Guidelines as of December 30, 2022. This also covers any FDA-approved contraceptives and related services.

Administrative Changes

The bill proposes several technical changes to the existing laws within Title 38 of the United States Code, which governs veterans’ benefits. This includes reordering and updating paragraphs to accurately reflect the new provisions for preventive health services.

Impact on Veterans

If enacted, the Copay Fairness for Veterans Act is expected to alleviate the financial burden on veterans seeking preventive health care by removing out-of-pocket costs associated with these important health services.

Relevant Companies

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