H.R. 5981: VA Billing Accountability Act

This bill, known as the VA Billing Accountability Act, aims to amend existing laws regarding veterans' copayments for hospital care, nursing home care, medical services, and medications provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Here are the main provisions of the bill:

Overview of Copayment Waivers

The bill allows the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to waive copayment requirements for certain veterans when the VA has made errors that delay notification of these payments. This waiver can be granted if:

• The veteran was notified of the copayment requirement more than 180 days after receiving the care or medication.
• The delay in notification was due to an error by the VA or its employees.

Waiver Period

The authority to waive copayment requirements will be available for a period of two years following the enactment of the bill.

Notification Procedures

The bill also establishes specific notification timelines for the VA when notifying veterans about copayments:

• For care provided at VA facilities, veterans must receive notification within 180 days of receiving the care.
• For care provided at non-VA facilities, veterans must be notified within 18 months.

If the VA fails to notify veterans within these timeframes, they cannot collect the payment unless they provide information about how to apply for a waiver or establish a payment plan.

Improvement of Procedures

Within 180 days of the bill's enactment, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs must review and improve the VA's billing internal controls and notification procedures, following the new requirements introduced by this legislation.

End of Effectiveness

The provisions related to waiving payments will cease to be effective two years after the enactment of this bill.

Relevant Companies

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