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Public Law115th CongressArmed Forces and National Security
S. 544Became Law

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.

This bill became law

Filed
Comm.
Floor
Both
Law

What it doesSummary public law (Apr 19, 2017)

(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 just happenedApr 19, 2017

Signed by President.

Who’s behind it

Sen. Tester, Jon [D-MT](D-MT)Sponsor
21 cosponsors12 D8 R1 I
Read on Congress.gov
21cosponsors1committees19actions2related bills5subjects
  1. Apr 19, 2017President

    Signed by President.

  2. Apr 19, 2017BecameLaw36000

    Signed by President.

  3. Apr 7, 2017Floor

    Presented to President.

  4. Apr 7, 2017President28000

    Presented to President.

  5. Apr 5, 2017FloorH38310

    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

  6. Apr 5, 2017FloorH37300

    On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H2722)

  7. Apr 5, 2017Floor8000

    Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H2722)

  8. Apr 5, 2017FloorH8D000

    DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 544.

  9. Apr 5, 2017FloorH30000

    Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H2722-2726)

  10. Apr 5, 2017FloorH30300

    Mr. Roe (TN) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.

  11. Apr 3, 2017FloorH15000

    Held at the desk.

  12. Apr 3, 2017FloorH14000

    Received in the House.

  13. Apr 3, 2017Floor

    Message on Senate action sent to the House.

  14. Apr 3, 2017Floor

    Passed Senate without amendment by Voice Vote. (text: CR S2163)

  15. Apr 3, 2017Floor17000

    Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Voice Vote.(text: CR S2163)

  16. Apr 3, 2017Discharge

    Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs discharged by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S2163-2164)

    Veterans' Affairs Committee
  17. Apr 3, 2017Committee14500

    Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs discharged by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S2163-2164)

    Veterans' Affairs Committee
  18. Mar 7, 2017IntroReferral

    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

    Veterans' Affairs Committee
  19. Mar 7, 2017IntroReferral10000

    Introduced in Senate

Public LawApr 19, 201749

(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.

Passed House without amendmentApr 5, 201781

(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.

Passed Senate without amendmentApr 3, 201782

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)

(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.

Introduced in SenateMar 7, 2017

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.

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.

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.

A bill to amend the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 to modify the … — Informed