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HR 1725 - 115

To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to submit certain reports relating to medical evidence submitted in support of claims for benefits under the laws administered by the Secretary.

Became Public Law No: 115-130.

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Defense
4 evidence matches
Impact 100% Confidence 92%

Armed Forces and National Security

Armed Forces and National Security

Secretary of Veterans Affairs to submit certain reports relating to medical evidence submitted in support of claims for benefits under the laws administered by the Secretary. Became Public Law No: 115-130. Armed Forces and National Security

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Summary

49 Public Law Mar 15, 2018

(This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the House on May 19, 2017. The summary of that version is repeated here.) (Sec. 1) This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), within 180 days of enactment of this bill, to submit a report on the progress of the VA's Acceptable Clinical Evidence initiative in reducing the necessity for in-person disability examinations. Such report shall include: (1) the number of claims eligible for the initiative, disaggregated by fiscal year; (2) the total number of claims eligible for the initiative that required a VA medical examiner to supplement the evidence with information obtained during a telephone interview with the claimant; (3) information on other VA initiatives to encourage the use of private medical evidence; (4) the anticipated impact on the time line and accuracy of processing claims if the VA were prohibited from requesting a private medical examination that is adequate for a claims decision; and (5) recommendations on how the VA can measure, track, and prevent the ordering of unnecessary medical examinations when a private examination has been administered. (Sec. 2) The VA shall submit by March 1 of FY2018-FY2024 an annual report that includes for each VA regional office: (1) the number of times a veteran who submitted private medical evidence in support of a claim for compensation or pension was scheduled for an examination by VA personnel because the private medical evidence was determined to be unacceptable, (2) the most common reasons for such determinations, and (3) the types of disabilities for which claims were most commonly denied when private medical evidence was submitted.

82 Passed Senate without amendment Mar 15, 2018

(This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the House on May 19, 2017. The summary of that version is repeated here.) (Sec. 1) This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), within 180 days of enactment of this bill, to submit a report on the progress of the VA's Acceptable Clinical Evidence initiative in reducing the necessity for in-person disability examinations. Such report shall include: (1) the number of claims eligible for the initiative, disaggregated by fiscal year; (2) the total number of claims eligible for the initiative that required a VA medical examiner to supplement the evidence with information obtained during a telephone interview with the claimant; (3) information on other VA initiatives to encourage the use of private medical evidence; (4) the anticipated impact on the time line and accuracy of processing claims if the VA were prohibited from requesting a private medical examination that is adequate for a claims decision; and (5) recommendations on how the VA can measure, track, and prevent the ordering of unnecessary medical examinations when a private examination has been administered. (Sec. 2) The VA shall submit by March 1 of FY2018-FY2024 an annual report that includes for each VA regional office: (1) the number of times a veteran who submitted private medical evidence in support of a claim for compensation or pension was scheduled for an examination by VA personnel because the private medical evidence was determined to be unacceptable, (2) the most common reasons for such determinations, and (3) the types of disabilities for which claims were most commonly denied when private medical evidence was submitted.

36 Passed House amended Sep 19, 2017

(This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the House on May 19, 2017. The summary of that version is repeated here.) (Sec. 1) This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), within 180 days of enactment of this bill, to submit a report on the progress of the VA's Acceptable Clinical Evidence initiative in reducing the necessity for in-person disability examinations. Such report shall include: (1) the number of claims eligible for the initiative, disaggregated by fiscal year; (2) the total number of claims eligible for the initiative that required a VA medical examiner to supplement the evidence with information obtained during a telephone interview with the claimant; (3) information on other VA initiatives to encourage the use of private medical evidence; (4) the anticipated impact on the time line and accuracy of processing claims if the VA were prohibited from requesting a private medical examination that is adequate for a claims decision; and (5) recommendations on how the VA can measure, track, and prevent the ordering of unnecessary medical examinations when a private examination has been administered. (Sec. 2) The VA shall submit by March 1 of FY2018-FY2024 an annual report that includes for each VA regional office: (1) the number of times a veteran who submitted private medical evidence in support of a claim for compensation or pension was scheduled for an examination by VA personnel because the private medical evidence was determined to be unacceptable, (2) the most common reasons for such determinations, and (3) the types of disabilities for which claims were most commonly denied when private medical evidence was submitted.

17 Reported to House with amendment(s) Sep 19, 2017

(Sec. 1) This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), within 180 days of enactment of this bill, to submit a report on the progress of the VA's Acceptable Clinical Evidence initiative in reducing the necessity for in-person disability examinations. Such report shall include: (1) the number of claims eligible for the initiative, disaggregated by fiscal year; (2) the total number of claims eligible for the initiative that required a VA medical examiner to supplement the evidence with information obtained during a telephone interview with the claimant; (3) information on other VA initiatives to encourage the use of private medical evidence; (4) the anticipated impact on the time line and accuracy of processing claims if the VA were prohibited from requesting a private medical examination that is adequate for a claims decision; and (5) recommendations on how the VA can measure, track, and prevent the ordering of unnecessary medical examinations when a private examination has been administered. (Sec. 2) The VA shall submit by March 1 of FY2018-FY2024 an annual report that includes for each VA regional office: (1) the number of times a veteran who submitted private medical evidence in support of a claim for compensation or pension was scheduled for an examination by VA personnel because the private medical evidence was determined to be unacceptable, (2) the most common reasons for such determinations, and (3) the types of disabilities for which claims were most commonly denied when private medical evidence was submitted.

00 Introduced in House Apr 8, 2017

Quicker Veterans Benefits Delivery Act of 2017 This bill requires (current law authorizes) the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to accept, for purposes of establishing a claim for veterans disability benefits, a report of a medical examination administered by a private physician without requiring confirmation by a Veterans Health Administration physician if the report is sufficiently complete (defined as competent, credible, probative, and containing such information as required to make a decision on the claim for which the report is provided). The VA is required to submit: (1) a report on the progress of the VA's Acceptable Clinical Evidence initiative in reducing the necessity for in-person disability examinations, and (2) an annual report for each VA regional office regarding claims for which private medical evidence was determined to be unacceptable.

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Timeline

Mar 9, 2018

Signed by President.

Mar 9, 2018

Signed by President.

Mar 9, 2018

Became Public Law No: 115-130.

Mar 9, 2018

Became Public Law No: 115-130.

Feb 28, 2018

Presented to President.

Feb 28, 2018

Presented to President.

Feb 16, 2018

Message on Senate action sent to the House.

Feb 15, 2018

Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs discharged by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S1190-1191)

Feb 15, 2018

Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs discharged by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S1190-1191)

Feb 15, 2018

Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.

Feb 15, 2018

Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.

May 24, 2017

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

May 23, 2017

Mr. Roe (TN) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.

May 23, 2017

Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H4475-4476)

May 23, 2017

DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 1725.

May 23, 2017

Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H4475)

May 23, 2017

On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H4475)

May 23, 2017

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

May 23, 2017

The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.

May 19, 2017

Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. H. Rept. 115-133.

May 19, 2017

Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. H. Rept. 115-133.

May 19, 2017

Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 82.

May 17, 2017

Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

May 17, 2017

Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.

Apr 27, 2017

Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

Apr 27, 2017

Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee (Amended) by Voice Vote.

Mar 24, 2017

Introduced in House

Mar 24, 2017

Introduced in House

Mar 24, 2017

Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

Mar 24, 2017

Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.

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