H.R. 6445 has cleared a markup hearing
at the House last week which means
it's ready for a Committee vote at
any time.

This Bill is lacking clarity. It relieves
certain Veterans from VAMC co-pays
either for hospital or nursing home
care "for certain catastrophic illnesses"
but then never goes on to list what
those conditions might be to qualify
for the exemption.

So your guess is as good as mine.
Surrounding this amended law citation
there may be another section adding
better clarity to this excerpt, I haven't
had the time to look.

Without more exacting language it
remains difficult to measure just
how good of a Bill this really is.

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To amend title 38, United States Code, to prohibit the Secretary of Veterans Affairs from collecting certain copayments from veterans who are catastrophically disabled. (Introduced in House)


HR 6445 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


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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.

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END of Bill Language

catastrophically disabled is Veterans priority 4.
Jimmy R. Stevens