---
kind: "diff"
citation: "H.R. 1972"
bill: "115-hr-1972"
heading: "VA Billing Accountability Act"
from: "ih"
from_label: "Introduced in House"
to: "rh"
to_label: "Reported in House"
sections_amended: 1
sections_added: 0
sections_removed: 0
url: "https://uscodex.org/bills/115/hr/1972/changes/rh"
---

# H.R. 1972 — what changed

H.R. 1972, VA Billing Accountability Act — 1 section amended between Introduced in House and Reported in House.

Edits are marked `<del>struck</del>` and `<ins>inserted</ins>`.

## Sec. 2 Authority of Secretary of Veterans Affairs to waive requirement of certain veterans to make copayments for care and services in the case of Department of Veterans Affairs error

- (a) Hospital care, nursing home care, and medical services— Section 1710(f)(3) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
  - “(G) The Secretary may waive the requirement of a veteran to make a payment under this subsection or subsection (g) if—
  - “(i) an error committed by the Department or an employee of the Department was the cause of delaying notification sent to the veteran of the requirement to make the payment; and
  - “(ii) the veteran received such notification later than <del>120 </del><ins>180 </ins>days after the date on which the veteran received the care or services for which the payment was required.”
- (b) Medications— Section 1722A of such title is amended—
  - (1) by redesignating subsection (c) as subsection (d); and
  - (2) by inserting after subsection (b) the following new subsection (c):
    - “(c) The Secretary may waive the requirement of a veteran to make a payment under this section if—
    - “(1) an error committed by the Department or an employee of the Department was the cause of delaying notification sent to the veteran of the requirement to make the payment; and
    - “(2) the veteran received such notification later than <del>120 </del><ins>180 </ins>days after the date on which the veteran received the medication for which the payment was required.”
- (c) Billing procedures—
  - (1) In general— Subchapter I of chapter 17 of such title is amended by adding at the end the following new section:
    - “1709C. Procedures for copayments
    - “(a) Care at Department facility
    - “(1) In requiring a veteran to make a payment for care or services provided at a medical facility of the Department pursuant to this chapter, including sections 1710 and 1722A, the Secretary shall provide to such veteran a notification of such required payment by not later than <del>120 </del><ins>180 </ins>days after the date on which the veteran receives the care or services for which payment is required.
    - “(2) If the Secretary does not provide to a veteran a notification of the required payment by the date required under paragraph (1), the Secretary may not collect such payment, including through a third-party entity, unless the Secretary provides the veteran the following:
    - “(A) Information regarding how to apply for a waiver described in section 1710(f)(3)(G) or section 1722A(c) of this title, as appropriate.
    - “(B) Information regarding how to establish a payment plan with the Secretary.
    - “(C) Opportunity to make such a waiver or establish such a payment plan.
    - “(b) Care at non-Department facility
    - “(1) In requiring a veteran to make a payment for care or services provided at a non-Department facility pursuant to this chapter or other provision of law, the Secretary shall provide to such veteran a notification of such required payment by not later than 18 months after the date on which the veteran receives the care or services for which payment is required.
    - “(2) If the Secretary does not provide to a veteran a notification of the required payment by the date required under paragraph (1), the Secretary may not collect such payment, including through a third-party entity, unless the Secretary provides the veteran the following:
    - “(A) Information regarding how to apply for a waiver described in paragraph (3).
    - “(B) Information regarding how to establish a payment plan with the Secretary.
    - “(C) Opportunity to make such a waiver or establish such a payment plan.
    - “(3) The Secretary may waive the requirement of a veteran to make a payment for care or services provided at a non-Department facility pursuant to this chapter or other provision of law if—
    - “(A) an error committed by the Department, an employee of the Department, or a non-Department facility was the cause of delaying the notification sent to the veteran of the requirement to make the payment; and
    - “(B) the veteran received such notification after the period described in paragraph (1).”
  - (2) Clerical amendment— The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 1709B the following new item:
- (d) Improvement of procedures— Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall—
  - (1) review the copayment billing internal controls and notification procedures of the Department of Veterans Affairs; and
  - (2) improve such controls and procedures, including pursuant to the amendments made by this Act.