HouseH.R. 9476119th Congress
To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to coordinate with the Secretary of Health and Human Services in administering the Veterans Community Care Program, and for other purposes.
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[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 9476 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 9476
To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to coordinate with the
Secretary of Health and Human Services in administering the Veterans
Community Care Program, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
June 25, 2026
Mrs. Miller-Meeks introduced the following bill; which was referred to
the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and in addition to the Committees
on Ways and Means, and Energy and Commerce, for a period to be
subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration
of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee
concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to coordinate with the
Secretary of Health and Human Services in administering the Veterans
Community Care Program, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. COORDINATION BETWEEN DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS AND
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES WITH RESPECT TO
ADMINISTRATION OF VETERANS COMMUNITY CARE PROGRAM.
(a) In General.--Not later than one year after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall, for purposes of
coordinating medical benefits and hospital care and medical services
furnished under the laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs, seek to enter into a memorandum of understanding with the
Secretary of Health and Human Services with respect to reciprocal
access between the Veterans Health Administration and the Centers for
Medicare and Medicaid Services to data and information for veterans who
are concurrently enrolled in the patient enrollment system under
section 1705(a) of title 38, United States Code, and--
(1) the Medicare program; or
(2) a Medicare Advantage plan.
(b) Veterans Community Care Program Administration.--
(1) In general.--In administering the Veterans Community
Care Program under section 1703 of title 38, United States
Code, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, acting through the
Office of Integrated Veteran Care of the Veterans Health
Administration, shall use the information transmitted to the
Secretary by the Secretary of Health and Human Services
pursuant to the memorandum of understanding required under
subsection (a) to--
(A) ensure, with respect to veterans who are
concurrently enrolled in the patient enrollment system
under section 1705(a) of such title and the Medicare
program, that the Department of Veterans Affairs does
not--
(i) furnish duplicative health care to such
veterans; or
(ii) make erroneous or duplicative payments
for health care furnished to such veterans; and
(B) identify specialized MA plans for special needs
individuals that the Secretary determines offer
benefits important for veteran health care, including
at least three of the benefit categories described in
paragraph (2).
(2) Benefit categories described.--The benefit categories
described in this paragraph are the following:
(A) Adaptive sports equipment.
(B) Hearing aids and related audiology services.
(C) Integrated traumatic brain injury
rehabilitation.
(D) Hyperbaric oxygen therapy.
(E) Massage therapy.
(F) Residential rehabilitation.
(G) Complementary and integrative health services.
(H) Other benefits or services the Secretary
determines are effective in improving health outcomes
for veterans.
(c) Coordination Offices.--
(1) Veterans health administration.--The Secretary of
Veterans Affairs, acting through the Office of Integrated
Veteran Care of the Veterans Health Administration, may
coordinate with the Secretary of Health and Human Services to
establish an office (to be known as the ``Veterans Affairs-
Medicare Dual Eligibility Coordination Office'') within the
Office of Integrated Veteran Care.
(2) Centers for medicare and medicaid services.--The
Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the
Director of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, may
coordinate with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, to establish
a office (to be known as the ``Medicare-Veterans Affairs Dual
Eligibility Coordination Office'') within the Centers for
Medicare and Medicaid Services.
(d) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) The term ``Medicare Advantage plan'' means a Medicare
Advantage plan under the program established under part C of
title XVIII of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w-21 et
seq.).
(2) The term ``Medicare program'' means the Medicare
program under such title.
(3) The terms ``specialized MA plan for special needs
individuals'' and ``special needs individual'' have the meaning
given such terms in section 1859(b)(6) of the Social Security
Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w-28(b)(6)).
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