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May 25, 2017viewing Reported in House Mr. Delaney (for himself, Mr. Hultgren, Ms. Sinema, Mrs. Walorski, Mr. Rouzer, Mr. O'Rourke, Mr. Ruppersberger, Mr. Young of Alaska, Ms. Stefanik, Mr. Jones, Mr. DeFazio, Mr. Rush, Mr. Bishop of Georgia, Mr. Himes, Mr. Gonzalez of Texas, Ms. Shea-Porter, Mrs. Dingell, Mr. Cartwright, Mr. Courtney, and Mr. Hastings) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Financial Services See what changed
May 25, 2017 Introduced in House Mr. Delaney (for himself, Mr. Hultgren, Ms. Sinema, Mrs. Walorski, Mr. Rouzer, Mr. O'Rourke, Mr. Ruppersberger, Mr. Young of Alaska, Ms. Stefanik, Mr. Jones, Mr. DeFazio, Mr. Rush, Mr. Bishop of Georgia, Mr. Himes, Mr. Gonzalez of Texas, Ms. Shea-Porter, Mrs. Dingell, Mr. Cartwright, Mr. Courtney, and Mr. Hastings) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Financial Services

H.R. 2683 — what changed

Protecting Veterans Credit Act of 2018

From Introduced in House to Reported in House. 4 sections amended and 1 added between Introduced in House and Reported in House.

Section 1 Short title

changed This Act may be cited as the “Protecting Veterans Credit Act of ~~2017”.~~2018”.

Sec. 2 Purpose

changed The ~~purposes~~ purpose of this Act ~~are—~~is to rectify problematic reporting of medical debt included in a consumer report of a veteran due to inappropriate or delayed payment for hospital care, medical services, or extended care services provided in a non-Department of Veterans Affairs facility under the laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.

(1)

removed to rectify problematic reporting of medical debt included in a consumer report of a veteran due to inappropriate or delayed payment for hospital care or medical services provided in a non-Department of Veterans Affairs facility under the laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; and

(2)

removed ~~to clarify the process of debt collection for such medical debt.~~

Sec. 3 Amendments to Fair Credit Reporting Act

(a)

Veteran’s medical debt defined— Section 603 of the Fair Credit Reporting Act (15 U.S.C. 1681a) is amended by adding at the end the following:

“(z) Veteran—The term veteran has the meaning given the term in section 101 of title 38, United States Code.

“(aa) Veteran's medical debt—The term veteran’s medical debt—

changed “(1) means a medical collection debt of a veteran ~~arising from health care provided in a~~ owed to an eligible non-Department of Veterans Affairs ~~facility under~~ health care provider that was submitted to the ~~laws administered~~ Department for payment for health care authorized by the ~~Secretary~~ Department of Veterans Affairs; and

changed “(2) includes medical collection debt that the Department of Veterans Affairs has wrongfully charged a veteran.”

(b)

changed Exclusion for veteran’s medical debt— Section 605(a) of the Fair Credit Reporting Act (15 U.S.C. ~~1681c)~~ 1681c(a)) is amended by adding at the end the following:

changed “(7) Any information related to a veteran’s medical debt if the date on which the hospital ~~care or~~ care, medical services, or extended care services was rendered relating to the debt antedates the report by less than ~~1 year.~~one year if the consumer reporting agency has actual knowledge that the information is related to a veteran’s medical debt and the consumer reporting agency is in compliance with its obligation under section 4(e) of the Protecting Veterans Credit Act of 2018.

changed “(8) Any information related to a fully paid or settled veteran’s medical debt that had been characterized as delinquent, charged off, or in ~~collection.”~~collection if the consumer reporting agency has actual knowledge that the information is related to a veteran’s medical debt and the consumer reporting agency is in compliance with its obligation under section 4(e) of the Protecting Veterans Credit Act of 2018.”

(c)

added Update to summary of rights— Section 609(c)(1)(B) of the Fair Credit Reporting Act (15 U.S.C. 1681g(c)(1)(B)) is amended—

(1)

added in clause (v), by striking “and” at the end;

(2)

added in clause (vi), by striking the period and inserting “; and”; and

(3)

added by adding at the end the following:

added “(vii) the right of a veteran to dispute the inclusion of veteran’s medical debt under section 611.”

(d)

renumbered was (4) Removal of veteran’s medical debt from consumer report— Section 611 of the Fair Credit Reporting Act (15 U.S.C. 1681i) is amended—

(1)

renumbered was (4)(3) in subsection (a)(1)(A), by inserting “and except as provided in subsection (g)” after “subsection (f)”; and

(2)

renumbered was (4)(4) by adding at the end the following:

“(g) Dispute process for veteran’s medical debt

added “(1) In general—With respect to a veteran’s medical debt, the veteran may submit a notice described in paragraph (2), proof of liability of the Department of Veterans Affairs for payment of that debt, or documentation that the Department of Veterans Affairs is in the process of making payment for authorized hospital care, medical services, or extended care services rendered to a consumer reporting agency or a reseller to dispute the inclusion of that debt on a consumer report of the veteran.

added “(2) Notification to veteran—The Department of Veterans Affairs shall submit to a veteran, not later than 30 days after the Department of Veterans Affairs assumes such liability, a written notice that the Department of Veterans Affairs has assumed liability for part or all of a veteran’s medical debt.

added “(3) Deletion of information from file—If a consumer reporting agency receives notice, proof of liability, or documentation under paragraph (1), the consumer reporting agency, not later than 30 days after receipt, and free of charge to the veteran, shall delete all information relating to the veteran’s medical debt from the file of the veteran and notify the furnisher and the veteran of that deletion.”

removed “(1) In general—With respect to a veteran's medical debt of a consumer, the consumer may submit a notice along with proof of liability of the Department of Veterans Affairs for payment of that debt or documentation that the Department of Veterans Affairs is in the process of making payment for authorized medical services rendered to a consumer reporting agency or a reseller to dispute the inclusion of that debt on a consumer report of the consumer.

removed “(2) Notification to veteran—The Department of Veterans Affairs shall submit to a veteran a notice that the Department of Veterans Affairs has assumed liability for part or all of a veteran's medical debt.

removed “(3) Deletion of information from file—If a notice and proof of liability or documentation is received under paragraph (1), the consumer reporting agency shall delete all information relating to the veteran’s medical debt from the file of the consumer and notify the furnisher and the consumer of that deletion.”

Sec. 4 Verification of veteran’s medical debt

(a)

added Definitions— For purposes of this section—

(1)

added the term “consumer reporting agency” means a consumer reporting agency described in section 603(p) or 603(x) of the Fair Credit Reporting Act (15 U.S.C. 1681a); and

(2)

added the terms “veteran” and “veteran’s medical debt” have the meanings given those terms in section 603 of the Fair Credit Reporting Act (15 U.S.C. 1681a), as added by section 3(a) of this Act.

(b)

added Establishment— Not later than one year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall establish a database to allow consumer reporting agencies to verify whether a debt furnished to a consumer reporting agency is a veteran’s medical debt.

(c)

added Database features—

(1)

added In general— The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall ensure that the database established under subsection (b), to the extent permitted by law, provides consumer reporting agencies with—

(A)

added sufficiently detailed and specific information to verify whether a debt being furnished to the consumer reporting agency is a veteran’s medical debt;

(B)

added access to verification information in a secure electronic format;

(C)

added timely access to verification information; and

(D)

added any other features that would promote the efficient, timely, and secure delivery of information that consumer reporting agencies could use to verify whether a debt is a veteran’s medical debt.

(2)

added Security and confidentiality— The Secretary shall ensure that, in maintaining and allowing access to the database established under subsection (b), the security and confidentiality of nonpublic personal information is maintained.

(d)

added Stakeholder input— Prior to establishing the database for verification under subsection (b), the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall publish in the Federal Register a notice and request for comment that solicits input from the public.

(e)

added Verification— Provided the database established under subsection (b) is fully functional and the data available to consumer reporting agencies, a consumer reporting agency shall use the database as a means to identify a veteran’s medical debt pursuant to paragraphs (7) and (8) of section 605(a) of the Fair Credit Reporting Act (15 U.S.C. 1681c(a)), as added by section (3)(b) of this Act.

removed ~~The amendments made by this Act shall take effect on the date that is 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act.~~

Sec. 5 Effective date

added

added The amendments made by this Act shall take effect on the date that is one year after the date of enactment of this Act.