Veterans' Health Care Policy Enhancement Act of 2008 - (Sec. 2) Prohibits the collection by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) of copayments or other fees for hospital or nursing home care in the case of catastrophically disabled veterans.
(Sec. 3) Repeals a current requirement that, in order for a family member of a non-service-connected disabled veteran to be eligible for counseling services, the counseling must be essential to permit the discharge of the veteran from the hospital.
(Sec. 4) Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to: (1) develop and implement a comprehensive policy on the management of pain experienced by veterans enrolled for VA health care services; (2) periodically revise the policy; and (3) report annually through FY2018 to the congressional veterans' committees on policy implementation.
(Sec. 5) Requires the Secretary, within five years after the enactment of this Act, to establish up to seven consolidated patient accounting centers for conducting industry-modeled regionalized VA billing and collection activities.
(Sec. 6) Repeals a provision of the Veterans' Benefits and Services Act of 1988 requiring written informed consent for HIV testing among veterans.
[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Printing Office]
[H.R. 6445 Introduced in House (IH)]
110th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 6445
To amend title 38, United States Code, to prohibit the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs from collecting certain copayments from veterans who
are catastrophically disabled.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
July 9, 2008
Mr. Cazayoux (for himself, Ms. Corrine Brown of Florida, Mr. Filner,
Mr. Hare, and Mr. Michaud) introduced the following bill; which was
referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend title 38, United States Code, to prohibit the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs from collecting certain copayments from veterans who
are catastrophically disabled.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. PROHIBITION ON COLLECTION OF CERTAIN COPAYMENTS FROM
VETERANS WHO ARE CATASTROPHICALLY DISABLED.
(a) Prohibition on Collection of Copayments and Other Fees for
Hospital or Nursing Home Care.--Section 1710 of title 38, United States
Code, is amended--
(1) by redesignating subsection (h) as subsection (i); and
(2) by inserting after subsection (g) the following new
subsection (h):
``(h) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, a
veteran who is catastrophically disabled shall not be required to make
any payment otherwise required under subsection (f) or (g) for the
receipt of hospital care or nursing home care under this section.''.
(b) Effective Date.--Subsection (h) of section 1710 of title 38,
United States Code, as added by subsection (a), shall apply with
respect to hospital care or nursing home care provided after the date
of the enactment of this Act.
<all>
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Unanimous Consent .
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. H. Rept. 110-786.
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. H. Rept. 110-786.
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 505.
Mr. Filner moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H7240-7244)
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DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 6445.
At the conclusion of debate, the chair put the question on the motion to suspend the rules. Mr. Moran (KS) objected to the vote on the grounds that a quorum was not present. Further proceedings on the motion were postponed. The point of no quorum was withdrawn.
Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H7531)
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 421 - 0 (Roll no. 541).(text: CR 7/29/2008 H7240)
Roll Call #541 (House)On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 421 - 0 (Roll no. 541). (text: CR 7/29/2008 H7240)
Roll Call #541 (House)Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.