Congress 110 - HR 6445 - Veterans' Health Care Policy Enhancement Act of 2008

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Topics

AIDS (Disease) Armed Forces and National Security Coinsurance Collection of accounts Counseling Department of Veterans Affairs Disabled Executive reorganization Families Family services Finance and Financial Sector Government Operations and Politics Health Hospital care Hospital rates Human immunodeficiency viruses Medical economics Medical screening Medical tests Nursing homes Pain Social Welfare Veterans' medical care

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Summary

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.

Actions

Jul 31, 2008

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
Jul 30, 2008

The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.
Jul 30, 2008

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Jul 30, 2008

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)
Jul 30, 2008

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)
Jul 30, 2008

Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H7531)
Jul 29, 2008

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.
Jul 29, 2008

DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 6445.
Jul 29, 2008

Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H7240-7244)
Jul 29, 2008

Mr. Filner moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
Jul 29, 2008

Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 505.
Jul 29, 2008

Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. H. Rept. 110-786.
Jul 16, 2008

Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
Jul 16, 2008

Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Jul 10, 2008

Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Unanimous Consent .
Jul 10, 2008

Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Jul 10, 2008

Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Jul 9, 2008

Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
Jul 9, 2008

Introduced in House

Amendments

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