Rounds Introduces Bill to Reform Non-VA Emergency Care

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today introduced legislation that would reduce the cost burden faced by veterans for emergency care received outside the Department of Veterans Affairs.

The Veterans’ Emergency Care Claims Parity Act would legislate a 180-day deadline from date of treatment for non-VA health care providers to submit emergency care claims for care given to eligible veterans, regardless of whether the VA determines the care to have been for a non-service connected or service-connected condition.

“Right now, veterans are getting hit with expensive emergency care bills through no fault of their own, either because their provider failed to submit a claim on time under a current VA 90-day deadline or because the VA mishandled the claim,” Rounds said. “This 90-day deadline at the VA is regulation, not law, and my bill would set that deadline at 180 days under law. This way providers have the time needed to submit claims for veterans and veterans are not forced to pick up the tab for thousands of dollars in emergency care bills. Our veterans deserve the best possible treatment and I want to make sure they receive it.”

Full bill text can be found here.

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