103rd Congress > House > Vote 742
Clerk session vote number: 148
Description: VA HEALTH EXEMPTION FROM FEDERAL WORKFORCE CUTS
Bill summary: VA State Health Care Reform Pilot Program Act - Authorizes the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out pilot programs on the participation of the Department of Veterans Affairs health care system in the health care systems of States that have adopted comprehensive health benefit plans. Allows up to five States to be used for such pilot programs. Requires the Secretary to provide benefits to persons through the Department health care system in such a State as if such system were a provider
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of benefits under the State plan. Prohibits a State from refusing Department participation in a State health benefit plan unless the chief executive officer of such State certifies that the Department plan or its facilities are inadequate to meet the State health benefit plan.
Requires the Secretary to designate a health system director for each State in which a pilot program is carried out. Authorizes the Secretary to carry out any necessary administrative reorganization of Department health care systems or facilities in a program State. Allows the Secretary to exclude Department facilities from participation in a pilot program. Authorizes a health system director to enter into contracts and agreements for the provision of health care services and related services in connection with the pilot program. Excludes such contracts and agreements from certain Federal law. Requires review by the Central Office of the Department of contracts and agreements of $250,000 or more.
Outlines provisions concerning: (1) the use of Department personnel in a pilot program; (2) eligible persons; and (3) copayments and other charges (and their waiver with respect to certain veterans).
Establishes in the Treasury the Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Reform Fund to be used for pilot program purposes, with a separate account established for each program.
Requires the Secretary to collect, and report to specified congressional committees concerning, information with respect to the provision of health care benefits under each pilot program. Requires annual reports by the Secretary to such committees concerning expenditures made from the Reform Fund for each pilot program during the previous fiscal year.
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Bill titles: To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide the Secretary of Veterans Affairs with necessary flexibility in staffing the Veterans Health Administration, to authorize the Secretary to establish pilot programs for health care delivery, and for other purposes.
Links for more info on the vote: congress.gov
