This bill strengthens oversight and payment controls for the Veterans Affairs Foreign Medical Program, which covers medical care that veterans receive from non-VA providers in foreign countries. The legislation caps payment rates at the lower of either what providers bill or what Medicare would pay for the same services, though the VA Secretary can exceed this cap in emergencies to ensure veteran access. The bill prevents the VA from paying claims submitted by or for deceased individuals and requires the VA to establish fraud detection procedures, including referring suspicious claims to the VA Inspector General and maintaining a public list of providers who have submitted fraudulent claims. The legislation also authorizes the VA to hire a Fraud Detection and Prevention Coordinator and contract with third-party administrators to process claims, with a requirement to implement any new information technology system within one year. These changes aim to reduce improper payments while maintaining quality care for veterans seeking medical services abroad.
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