Skip to main content
S 544 115th Congress Senate Armed Forces and National Security Disability and paralysis Health care coverage and access Health information and medical records Hospital care Veterans' medical care

A bill 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.

Introduced: March 7, 2017 See on congress.gov
Sign in to write a letter Sign in to watch
 Everywhere this bill has been 18 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Apr 19, 2017
Became Public Law No: 115-26.
Apr 19, 2017
Signed by President.
Apr 7, 2017
Presented to President.
Apr 5, 2017
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Apr 5, 2017
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H2722)
Apr 5, 2017
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H2722)
Apr 5, 2017
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 544.
Apr 5, 2017
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H2722-2726)
Apr 5, 2017
Mr. Roe (TN) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
Apr 3, 2017
Held at the desk.
Apr 3, 2017
Received in the House.
Apr 3, 2017
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Apr 3, 2017
Passed Senate without amendment by Voice Vote. (text: CR S2163)
Apr 3, 2017
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Voice Vote.(text: CR S2163)
Apr 3, 2017
Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs discharged by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S2163-2164)
Apr 3, 2017
Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs discharged by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S2163-2164)
Mar 7, 2017
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
Mar 7, 2017
Introduced in Senate
 Ask about this bill AI · grounded in the bill text

Have a question about what this bill does? Ask in plain English; the answer is drawn from the bill's actual text and official record, and it'll tell you when something isn't in the text rather than guess.

AI answers can be imperfect; always confirm against the full bill text.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The expanded summary of the Senate passed version is repeated here.)

(Sec. 1) This bill amends the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 to eliminate the August 7, 2017, sunset date for the Veterans Choice Program, thus allowing the program to operate until all of the money in the Veterans Choice Fund is expended.

(Sec. 2) The bill makes the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) the primary payer (currently the VA is the secondary payer) for medical care relating to non-service connected disabilities and recovery of costs from third parties for certain care under the program.

(Sec. 3) The VA may share medical information with a non-VA entity (including private entities and other federal agencies) that provides veterans with authorized hospital care or medical services. Such entity may not redisclose or use such information for a purpose other than that for which the disclosure was made.

What's happening now April 19, 2017

Became Public Law No: 115-26.

 Related & companion bills 2
  • S 86 Related bill Veterans Choice Continuation Act
  • HR 369 Related bill To eliminate the sunset of the Veterans Choice Program, and for other purposes.
 Bill text 4 versions

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
 Cosponsors 15
All 15 Democratic 8 Republican 6 Independent 1
I
King, Angus S., Jr.
Maine · Apr 3, 2017
 D
Merkley, Jeff
Oregon · Mar 28, 2017
 D
Peters, Gary C.
Michigan · Mar 21, 2017
 D
Van Hollen, Chris
Maryland · Mar 21, 2017
 D
Hirono, Mazie K.
Hawaii · Mar 15, 2017
 R
Hoeven, John
North Dakota · Mar 15, 2017
 R
Crapo, Mike
Idaho · Mar 14, 2017
 R
Daines, Steve
Montana · Mar 14, 2017
 D
Baldwin, Tammy
Wisconsin · Mar 9, 2017
 D
Bennet, Michael F.
Colorado · Mar 7, 2017
 D
Blumenthal, Richard
Connecticut · Mar 7, 2017
 R
Boozman, John
Arkansas · Mar 7, 2017
 R
Moran, Jerry
Kansas · Mar 7, 2017
 R
Rounds, Mike
South Dakota · Mar 7, 2017
 D
Schatz, Brian
Hawaii · Mar 7, 2017
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 544: A bill 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.. 115th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/115-S-544/
MLA
"S. 544: A bill 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.." 115th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/115-S-544/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 544, 115th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/115-S-544/.
Markdown link
[S. 544: A bill 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.](https://openamerica.io/bill/115-S-544/)
Report a problem