Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Veterans Health Care Freedom Act”.
Veterans Health Care Freedom Act
A BILL
To amend the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 to expand and make permanent the Veterans Choice Program, and for other purposes.
Sec. 2 Modification to Veterans Choice Program
Expansion—
In general— Subsection (b) of section 101 of the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 (38 U.S.C. 1701 note) is amended to read as follows:
“(b) Eligible veterans—A veteran is an eligible veteran for purposes of this section if the veteran is enrolled in the patient enrollment system of the Department of Veterans Affairs established and operated under section 1705 of title 38, United States Code, including any such veteran who has not received hospital care or medical services from the Department and has contacted the Department seeking an initial appointment from the Department for the receipt of such care or services.”
Choice of provider— Such section is amended—
in subsection (a)—
by striking paragraph (2); and
by redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph (2); and
by striking subsection (c) and inserting the following new subsection (c):
“(c) Choice of provider—An eligible veteran who receives hospital care or medical services under this section may select a provider of such care or services from among the entities specified in paragraph (1)(B) that are accessible to the veteran.”
Conforming amendments— Such section is further amended—
in subsection (f)(1), by striking “subsection (b)(1)” and inserting “subsection (b)”;
in subsection (g)(3), by striking “under subparagraph (B), (C), or (D) of subsection (b)(2)”; and
in subsection (q)(2)(A)—
by striking “, disaggregated by—” and inserting a period; and
by striking clauses (i) through (iv).
Permanent program—
Removal of sunset— Subsection (p) of such section is amended to read as follows:
“(p) Authority To Furnish Care and Services—The Secretary may furnish care and services under this section subject to the availability of funds in the Veterans Choice Fund established by section 802 or otherwise appropriated to carry out this section.”
Conforming amendments— Section 101 of such Act is further amended—
in subsection (i)(2), by striking “is authorized to carry out this section pursuant to subsection (p)” and inserting “carries out this section”; and
in subsection (q)(2), as amended by subsection (a)(2)(D) of this section, by striking subparagraph (F).
Annual reports— Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to Congress a report that includes the following:
With respect to each medical facility of the Department of Veterans Affairs, any increase or decrease in the number of veterans seeking hospital care or medical services at such facility during the one-year period covered by the report.
In light of the increase or decrease of veterans seeking hospital care or medical services at each medical facility of the Department as identified under paragraph (1), recommendations by the Secretary with respect to the proposed budget for such facility for the fiscal year following the date of the report.
How the Secretary is ensuring compliance with all requirements of chapter 39 of title 31, United States Code (commonly referred to as the “Prompt Payment Act”), including, for the one-year period covered by the report—
the average amount of time taken by the Secretary to pay a non-Department health care provider after receiving an invoice; and
a description of each instance in which the Secretary paid interest to such a non-Department health care provider pursuant to such chapter 39.