HB 26-04: No Coronavirus Copays for Veterans Act (Passed)

[Joseph Cao]

HOUSE BILL

To prohibit the Secretary of Veterans Affairs from charging veterans copayments for preventive services relating to COVID–19.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Republic of Atlasia in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the “No Coronavirus Copays for Veterans Act”.

SEC. 2. PROHIBITION ON COPAYMENTS AND COST SHARING FOR VETERANS RECEIVING PREVENTIVE SERVICES RELATING TO COVID–19.

(a) Prohibition.—The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may not require any copayment or other cost sharing under chapter 17 of title 38, United States Code, for qualifying coronavirus preventive services. The requirement described in this subsection shall take effect with respect to a qualifying coronavirus preventive service starting on the specified date.

(b) Definitions.—In this section, the terms “qualifying coronavirus preventive service” includes any treatment related to coronavirus testing, diagnosis, and treatment and “specified date” means the date this bill is signed into law.

Sponsor: Tamika Jackson
House Designation: HB 26-04

72 hours to debate.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

Current Law, pretty sure I wrote all of Article III of R&RPHA with Scott doing minor revisions but he can correct me if I am remembering wrong:

Section 2: Coverage for Special Populations

1. All active duty military personnel shall be eligible for full coverage under AtlasCare, fully paid for by the Defense Health Agency, of the Sub-Department of Defense, within the Department of State, with no premiums, co-pays or deductibles.

2. All Veterans shall be eligible for full coverage under AtlasCare, with no co-pays or deductibles, with subsidies for premiums as described in Part 1, Section 3 of this Act. Cost normally associated with co-pays and deductibles shall be covered by the government through the Veterans Benefits Administration.

[Tamika Jackson]

Mr. Speaker, in-light of the new information, I propose the following Amendment:

HOUSE BILL

To prohibit the Secretary of Veterans Affairs healthcare providers from charging veterans copayments for preventive services relating to COVID–19.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Republic of Atlasia in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the “No Coronavirus Costspays for Veterans Act”.

SEC. 2. PROHIBITION ON COPAYMENTS AND COSTS SHARING FOR VETERANS RECEIVING PREVENTIVE SERVICES RELATING TO COVID–19.

(a) Prohibition.—The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may not require any copayment or other cost sharing under chapter 17 of title 38, United States Code, Any healthcare provider that refuses to accept AtlasCare may not charge Veterans for qualifying coronavirus preventive services. The requirement described in this subsection shall take effect with respect to a qualifying coronavirus preventive service starting on the specified date.

(b) Reimbursement - The Secretary of Veterans Affairs will create a method of cost-reimbursement for healthcare providers who do not accept AtlasCare and end up providing coronavirus preventative services to a veteran. Reimbursement will be paid for through the AtlasCare budget.

(c) Definitions.—In this section, the terms “qualifying coronavirus preventive service” includes any treatment related to coronavirus testing, diagnosis, and treatment and “specified date” means the date this bill is signed into law.

[Tamika Jackson]

Mr. Speaker, there does not seem to be any further debate on this bill. I call the question.

I yield.

[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

I, for one, would prefer that AtlasCare assume the cost of all COVID-related testing and treatment for both veterans and non-veterans. Otherwise catching this virus is going to bankrupt possibly thousands of people and possibly deter them from getting treatment if they need to.

[SevenEleven]

I, for one, would prefer that AtlasCare assume the cost of all COVID-related testing and treatment for both veterans and non-veterans. Otherwise catching this virus is going to bankrupt possibly thousands of people and possibly deter them from getting treatment if they need to.

I tend to agree with this point of view. We are asking a lot of our general public. The very existence of the term "essential workers" demonstrates the importance of so many various occupations and how they contribute to the fabric of our society.

[Joseph Cao]

Technically Ms. Jackson's amendment has been adopted as it saw no objections, but other representatives are welcome to introduce additional amendments to further address the concerns here if they so choose.

[Tamika Jackson]

I, for one, would prefer that AtlasCare assume the cost of all COVID-related testing and treatment for both veterans and non-veterans. Otherwise catching this virus is going to bankrupt possibly thousands of people and possibly deter them from getting treatment if they need to.

I, for one, would prefer that AtlasCare assume the cost of all COVID-related testing and treatment for both veterans and non-veterans. Otherwise catching this virus is going to bankrupt possibly thousands of people and possibly deter them from getting treatment if they need to.

I tend to agree with this point of view. We are asking a lot of our general public. The very existence of the term "essential workers" demonstrates the importance of so many various occupations and how they contribute to the fabric of our society.

Mr. Speaker,

Unfortunately, the reality is that many healthcare providers do not accept AtlasCare and I don't think we can force them to accept it.

The bill I've proposed at least covers our Veterans. I would be concerned about whether the Atlasian Treasury could afford to cover coronavirus care for all Americans, even though I could support such an effort.

May we send an inquiry to the Comptroller General?

I yield.

[Tamika Jackson]

Mr. Speaker,

I rise on a point of inquiry to ascertain the status of this bill.

I yield.

[Joseph Cao]

Mr. Speaker,

I rise on a point of inquiry to ascertain the status of this bill.

I yield.

We are still in the debate stage, as you can see from the thread title, though to say there has been debate here is admittedly straining the truth somewhat.

Our colleagues' concerns from earlier are certainly valid and should be commended for their thoughtfulness. It's lucky, then, that the Coronavirus Containment and Emergency Response Act Congress passed in March has got you covered:

Section 4. Testing and Treatment

(f.) AtlasCare and all private health insurance companies must provide free coronavirus testing and treatment.

So it would seem that both veterans and non-veterans won't need to assume any additional costs arising from COVID-19, as Scott called for previously.

Having said that, I will reiterate my call for further concerns or amendments if any of you feel they are needed.

[Joseph Cao]

Seeing no further debate, I motion for a final vote.

[Joseph Cao]

Representatives have 24 hours to object to the motion.

[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

Sorry to pop in late here, but it seems that if AtlasCare and private health companies already cover everyone (which I stupidly forgot, and it was mine and Thumb's amendment) then this bill would be a tad redundant, no?

[Joseph Cao]

Sorry to pop in late here, but it seems that if AtlasCare and private health companies already cover everyone (which I stupidly forgot, and it was mine and Thumb's amendment) then this bill would be a tad redundant, no?

If my reading of the current version of this bill is correct, its primary effect (in Section 2(b)) would be reimbursing the costs undertaken by healthcare providers specifically in the course of treating veterans for COVID. This reimbursement is outside the range of the original bill. Moreover, 2(a) qualifies some conditions around the requirement in the CC&ER Act that all COVID testing and treatment be free of charge.

Of course, representatives and other observers can feel free to correct me if my interpretation here is faulty.

[Joseph Cao]

Anyway, with no further objections, a final vote is now open on this bill.

Representatives, please vote Aye, Nay, or Abstain.

[Senator-elect Spark]

Aye

[Tamika Jackson]

Aye

[Rep Jessica]

Aye

[P. Clodius Pulcher did nothing wrong]

Aye

[SevenEleven]

Abstain.

[Left Wing]

Abstain

[Joseph Cao]

Aye.

A majority of representatives have indicated support. 24 hours to vote or change your vote.

[Joseph Cao]

Vote closed. By a vote of 5-0-2-2, this bill passes.

[Joseph Cao]

HOUSE BILL

To prohibit healthcare providers from charging veterans for preventive services relating to COVID–19.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Republic of Atlasia in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the “No Coronavirus Costs for Veterans Act”.

SECTION 2. PROHIBITION ON COPAYMENTS AND COSTS FOR VETERANS RECEIVING PREVENTIVE SERVICES RELATING TO COVID–19.

(a) Prohibition.—Any healthcare provider that refuses to accept AtlasCare may not charge Veterans for qualifying coronavirus preventive services. The requirement described in this subsection shall take effect with respect to a qualifying coronavirus preventive service starting on the specified date.

(b) Reimbursement - The Secretary of Veterans Affairs will create a method of cost-reimbursement for healthcare providers who do not accept AtlasCare and end up providing coronavirus preventative services to a veteran. Reimbursement will be paid for through the AtlasCare budget.

(c) Definitions.—In this section, the terms “qualifying coronavirus preventive service” includes any treatment related to coronavirus testing, diagnosis, and treatment and “specified date” means the date this bill is signed into law.

People's House of Representatives
Passed 5-0-2-2 in the House of Representatives

[Dr. MB]

Representatives have 72 hours to vote on the Senate amended text.

HOUSE BILL

To prohibit healthcare providers from charging veterans for preventive services relating to COVID–19.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Republic of Atlasia in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the “No Coronavirus Costs for Veterans Act”.

SECTION 2. PROHIBITION ON COPAYMENTS AND COSTS FOR VETERANS RECEIVING PREVENTIVE SERVICES RELATING TO COVID–19.

(a) Prohibition.—Any healthcare provider that refuses to accept AtlasCare may not charge Veterans for qualifying coronavirus preventive services. The requirement described in this subsection shall take effect with respect to a qualifying coronavirus preventive service starting on the specified date.

(b) Reimbursement - The Secretary of Veterans Affairs will create a method of cost-reimbursement for healthcare providers who do not accept AtlasCare and end up providing coronavirus preventative services to a veteran. Reimbursement will be paid for through the AtlasCare budget.

(c) Definitions.—In this section, the terms “qualifying coronavirus preventive service” includes any treatment related to coronavirus testing, diagnosis, and treatment and “specified date” means the date this bill is signed into law.

Section 3. Correcting Preventative Medicine Issues in the R&RPHA
Part I, Section 2, 1.a of the R&RPHA  is amended as follows:

Minimum Coverage Requirements
a. Preventative Care: Every exchange must offer at least one provider that covers preventative care with no co-pays, deductibles or out of pocket expenses, be it in the form of a private insurer, co-op or public health care benefit. Preventive care shall be defined as care related to disease prevention, early diagnosis and health maintenance, including clinical examinations, immunization, prenatal care and medically indicated screenings.

Part II, Section 2.2.a is amended as follows:

a. Benefits covered by AtlasCare plans shall be purchased individually, with recipients being covered under the following parts:

AtlasCare Part A provides benefits and coverage for

    Inpatient hospital stays and care
    Hospice and home health services

AtlasCare Part B provides benefits and coverage for

    Doctor and clinical lab services
    Outpatient and preventive care
    Screenings, surgical fees and supplies
    Physical and occupational therapy

AtlasCare Part B shall charge no co-pays, deductibles, or out of pocket expenses for preventative care, including immunizations.

People's House of Representatives
Passed 5-0-2-2 in the House of Representatives

Passed 6-0 in the Senate