| Sponsor | Rep. Filner, Bob |
| Committee | Veterans Affairs |
| Date | March 30, 2009 (111th Congress, 1st Session) |
| Staff Contact | Adam Hepburn |
H.R. 1377 is being considered on the floor under suspension of the rules, requiring a two-thirds majority vote for passage. This legislation was introduced by Representative Bob Filner (D-CA) on March 6, 2009.
H.R. 1377 would require the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to pay for emergency care that certain veterans receive at non-VA medical facilities or to reimburse veterans if they have paid for that care. Specifically, veterans with non-service-connected conditions whose third-party insurer does not cover the full cost of care would be reimbursed. The bill also permits the VA to reimburse veterans for emergency treatment that was provided prior to the date of enactment.
Under current federal law, the Department of Veterans Affairs has the authority to reimburse certain veterans or pay for emergency treatment of a non-service connected condition if the VA is the payer of last resort. However, the VA currently does not pay for emergency treatment for non-service connected conditions in facilities outside the VA system if a veteran has third-party insurance that pays for any portion of the medical cost. H.R. 1377 would make these veterans eligible for reimbursements from the VA.
The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates that implementing H.R. 1377 would cost $5 million over five years, assuming appropriation of the estimated amounts.