Foreign Medical Program Integrity and Improvement Act

Pat Harrigan

Republican · NC · Representative

Source: Congress.gov · FEC

No cosponsors on record. Bills can pass without cosponsors — this often means the sponsor introduced the bill alone, either because it's a messaging bill, a chairman's mark, or simply early in the legislative cycle.

Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

2026-06-25

Source: Congress.gov

The Department of Veterans Affairs operates a program that helps veterans receive medical care from foreign doctors and hospitals, and this proposal would strengthen the rules and monitoring systems to ensure the program works properly and protects veterans' safety. The changes would likely include better tracking of which foreign providers are qualified, clearer standards for what care can be covered, and improved oversight to prevent fraud or abuse. Veterans using this program and the VA itself would be affected by these new requirements.

AI-assisted summary generated from the official bill metadata (title, subjects, actions) sourced from Congress.gov. Cached and reviewed. Always verify against the official text linked below.

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [H.R. 9466 Introduced in House (IH)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 9466 To improve the integrity and oversight of the Foreign Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES June 25, 2026 Mr. Harrigan introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To improve the integrity and oversight of the Foreign Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Foreign Medical Program Integrity and Improvement Act''. SEC. 2. FOREIGN MEDICAL PROGRAM OF THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS: RATES OF PAYMENT; OVERSIGHT. (a) Rates of Payment.--Section 1724 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: ``(g)(1) Subject to paragraph (2), the rate paid for hospital care or medical services under this section shall be the lesser of-- ``(A) the amount billed for such hospital care or medical services; or ``(B) the rate paid by the United States to a provider of services (as defined in section 1861(u) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x(u))) or a supplier (as defined in section 1861(d) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x(d))) under the Medicare program under title XVIII of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1301 et seq.), including section 1834 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1395m), for the same care or services. ``(2) The Secretary may make a payment in excess of the rate determined under paragraph (1) to ensure that a veteran has access to hospital care or medical services, including in an emergency.''. (b) In the Case of a Deceased Veteran or Provider.--Section 1724 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: ``(h)(1) The Secretary may not use any Federal funds to pay for care or services furnished under this section-- ``(A)(i) to an individual who appears in the Death Master File; or ``(ii) by an individual who appears in the Death Master File; and ``(B) after the date of death of such individual. ``(2) In this subsection, the term `Death Master File' has the meaning given such term in section 203 of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013 (Public Law 113-167; 42 U.S.C. 1306c).''. (c) In Cases of Fraud.--Section 1724 of title 38, United States Code, is further amended by adding at the end the following new subsections: ``(i) In the case of a claim for payment for care or services furnished under this section that the Secretary suspects constitutes fraud, waste or abuse, the Secretary-- ``(1) shall refer such claim to the Inspector General of the Department; ``(2) may withhold such payment during the investigation of such claim; ``(3) shall approve the claim and release such payment as soon as practicable if the Inspector General determines that the claim is proper; and ``(4) shall, if the Inspector General determines that such claim constitutes fraud, waste or abuse-- ``(A) deny the claim; and ``(B) take action the Secretary determines appropriate to recover any Federal funds already paid in relation to such claim, claimant, or provider. ``(j)(1) The Secretary shall maintain a list of providers of care or services furnished under this section who have submitted fraudulent claims for such care or services. ``(2) The Secretary may not use any Federal funds to pay for care or services…

furnished under this section by a provider whose name appears on the list. ``(3) Each time the Secretary adds the name of a provider to the list, the Secretary shall distribute the list electronically to veterans registered in a program under this section. ``(j) The Secretary shall designate a Fraud Detection and Prevention Coordinator to carry out subsections (h), (i), and (j) of this section.''. (d) Authority To Contract.-- (1) In general.--Section 1724 of title 38, United States Code, is further amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: ``(k) The Secretary may enter into an agreement with an entity pursuant to which such entity shall serve as a third-party administrator of claims for care or services furnished under this section.''. (2) Temporary expansion.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may enter into an agreement with an entity pursuant to which such entity shall provide to the Secretary access to an information technology system for the administration of claims for care or services furnished under such section. If the Secretary exercises such authority, the Secretary shall ensure that implementation of such system is complete not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act. <all>

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