Smucker, Davis, Klobuchar, Tillis, and Hoeven Introduce Bipartisan VA Billing Accountability Act

Washington-- Rep. Lloyd Smucker (PA-11) has partnered with Rep. Don Davis (NC-1) to reintroduce the bipartisan VA Billing Accountability Act. In the Senate, the measure is led by Sens. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Thom Tillis (R-NC), and John Hoeven (R-ND).

The VA Accountability Act would require the Department of Veterans Affairs to set specific and clear billing requirements, so veterans do not receive outdated co-payments from the VA.

"Our veterans and their families have sacrificed so much to protect our country and we should be doing all we can to make their transition to civilian life as easy as possible. Forcing them to pay for bureaucratic errors and delays is no way to treat those who have risked everything and sacrificed to protect our country," said Rep. Smucker. "I encourage my colleagues in the House to pass this legislation again so we can bring our veterans peace of mind, stability, and financial security. "

“In the greatest nation on earth, veterans deserve nothing short of the best medical treatment and the highest standard of transparency,” said Congressman Davis. “Far too often, our vets are stuck with surprise medical bills months or even years after receiving care from the VA or outside providers. With the introduction of the VA Billing Accountability Act, all veterans must receive a bill no later than 180 days after getting treated at a VA facility and no later than 18 months after seeing an outside provider. After years of bipartisan attempts, now is the time to get the job done for our vets by passing this bill and ensuring financial predictability and stability for our nation’s fearless heroes.”

“When we ask our young men and women to defend our nation, we make a promise to be there for them when they return home, not make their lives more difficult,” said Sen. Klobuchar. "Too many veterans are receiving outdated or incorrect bills from the VA. Some veterans have even reported receiving medical bills years after they received care. That’s unacceptable. I’m working with colleagues on both sides of the aisle to protect our veterans from these unfair practices and give them the peace of mind and relief they deserve." 

“This important legislation ensures that veterans receive affordable, quality healthcare by waiving late co-payment fees for medications and other healthcare services,” said  Sen. Tillis. “I am proud to co-sponsor this legislation on behalf of the more than 600,000 veterans that call North Carolina home.” 

“Our veterans have earned the health care they receive through the VA, and they deserve to have certainty when accessing those benefits,” said Sen. Hoeven. “Our legislation would ensure veterans receive timely notification of any required copayments, helping to prevent surprise bills and holding the VA accountable for errors and delays in its billing system.”

Pennsylvania's Eleventh District is home to nearly 40,000 veterans. Over the last decade, federal oversight of the Department of Veterans Affairs has uncovered thousands of cases where the VA delivered delayed or inaccurate co-payments to veterans, causing financial stress and debt for military families. In one instance, more than 1,500 veterans were blindsided when they received co-payment bills for VA care dating as far back as five years.

The VA Billing Accountability Act authorizes the VA to waive the requirement that a veteran make co-payments for medication, hospital care, nursing home care, and medical services if:

• an error committed by the VA or a VA employee caused delaying copayments notification to the veteran; and

• the veteran received such notification more than 180 days (18 months in the case of a non-VA facility) after the date on which they received care or services

This legislation also grants authorizing power to the VA Secretary to eliminate requiring veterans make a co-payment if the VA does not abide by the billing timing mandates.

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