Book Description

"The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provides benefits to veterans who meet certain eligibility rules. Benefits to veterans range from disability compensation and pensions to hospital and medical care. VA provides these benefits to veterans through three major operating units: the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) and the National Cemetery Administration (NCA). VHA is primarily a direct service provider of primary care, specialized care, and related medical and social support services to veterans through an integrated health care system. Veterans are enrolled in priority groups that determine payments for service and non-service connected medical conditions. The President's FY2006 budget requested 28.2 billion for VHA: 20.0 billion for medical services, 4.5 billion for medical administration, 3.3 billion for medical facilities, and 393 million for medical and prosthetic research. On July 14, 2005, the Administration requested an additional 2.0 billion for medical services for FY2006, bringing the total request for VHA to 30.2 billion. VHA medical care collections (e.g., copays, third-party insurance payments) for FY2006 are expected to be 2.2 billion. On May 26, 2005, the House passed H.R. 2528 making appropriations for Military Quality of Life and Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies for FY2006 (MIL-QUAL appropriations bill). H.R. 2528 provided 28.8 billion for VHA: 21.0 billion for medical services, 4.1 billion for medical administration, 3.3 billion for medical facilities, and 393 million for medical and prosthetic research. On June 23, 2005, VA announced a more than 1 billion shortfall from its FY2005 enacted budget for veterans' health programs. On August 2, 2005, the President signed the Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies appropriations bill, 2006 (P.L.109-54) providing 1.5 billion in supplemental appropriations for veterans medical services for FY2005, with carryover authority for FY2006 as well. On September 22, 2005, the Senate passed its version of H.R. 2528 making appropriations for Military Construction and Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies for FY2006 (MIL-CON appropriations bill). The Senate appropriated a total of 31.3 billion for VHA: 23.3 billion for medical services, 2.9 billion for medical administration, 3.3 billion for medical facilities, 412 million for medical and prosthetic research, and 1.5 billion for information technology. That amount is 1.2 billion more than the Administration's request, and 2.5 billion more than the Housepassed version of the bill. In its FY2006 budget submission to Congress, the Administration proposed several legislative and regulatory changes to increase certain copayments and other cost-sharing charges for veterans in lower-priority categories. The House and Senate Committees on Appropriations did not accept any of the Administration's costsharing proposals for VHA. This report will be updated as legislative and budgetary activity occurs.