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HR 3561 104th Congress House Armed Forces and National Security Collection of accounts Department of Veterans Affairs Federal employees Finance and Financial Sector Government Operations and Politics Government procurement Health Health facilities Health insurance Insurance companies Medical supplies Medicare Social Welfare Veterans' hospitals Veterans' medical care

Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Expansion Act of 1996

Introduced: May 30, 1996 Introduced by: Smith, Christopher H. Republican · New Jersey See on congress.gov
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 Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jun 11, 1996
Referred to the Subcommittee on Hospitals and Health Care.
May 30, 1996
Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
May 30, 1996
Introduced in House
 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Expansion Act of 1996 - Repeals a provision of the Veterans Health Care Act of 1992 which terminates the authority of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (Secretary) to enter into an agreement with the Secretary of Defense for the sharing of health care.

Entitles the United States to recover or collect from a private health care plan charges for care or services furnished by a Department of Veterans Affairs medical facility to a primary beneficiary of such plan to the extent that the beneficiary would be eligible under the plan to receive payment if the care or services had not been furnished by a U.S. department or agency.

Repeals a statement of congressional purpose regarding the sharing of health care resources of the Department with certain other entities.

Authorizes the Secretary to share all health care resources (currently, only specialized medical resources) with medical schools, health-care facilities and research centers (current law), as well as with any health-care provider or plan, insurer, or other entity or individual.

Repeals a provision requiring reciprocal reimbursement of the cost of such shared resources, instead providing for payment to the Department under procedures which allow appropriate flexibility to negotiate a payment which is in the best interest of the Government.

Authorizes the Secretary to enter into an arrangement that authorizes the furnishing of services to non-veterans only if the Secretary determines that such an arrangement: (1) will not result in the denial of or delay in the provision of care to any veteran at that facility; and (2) is necessary to maintain an acceptable level and quality of service to veterans and will result in the improvement of services to eligible veterans at that facility.

Excludes from limitations on the number of full-time equivalent positions permitted in the Department those positions held by persons involved in providing health care resources under sharing arrangements.

What's happening now June 11, 1996

Referred to the Subcommittee on Hospitals and Health Care.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2