Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 100 Part 1.djvu/420

 100 STAT. 384

Reports.

Contracts.

38 USC 3301, 4132.

Records. Public information.

Contracts.

Classified information. Regulations.

PUBLIC LAW 99-272—APR. 7, 1986

facilities of departments or agencies of the United States) in the same geographic area. "(C) Not later than 45 days after the date on which the Administrator prescribes such regulations (or any amendment to such regulations), the Comptroller General shall submit to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the House of Representatives the Comptroller General's comments on and recommendations regarding such regulations (or amendment). "(d) Any contract or agreement into which the Administrator enters with a person under section 3718 of title 31 for collection services to recover indebtedness owed the United States under this section shall provide, with respect to such services, that such person is subject to sections 3301 and 4132 of this title. "(e) A veteran eligible for care or services under this chapter— "(1) may not be denied such care or services by reason of this section; and "(2) may not be required by reason of this section to make any copayment or deductible payment in order to receive such care. "(f) No law of any State or of any political subdivision of a State, and no provision of any contract or other agreement, shall operate to prevent recovery or collection by the United States under this section or with respect to care or services furnished under section 611(b) of this title. "(g) Amounts collected or recovered on behalf of the United States under this section shall be deposited into the Treasury as miscellaneous receipts. "(h)(1) Subject to paragraph (3) of this subsection, the Administrator shall make available medical records of a veteran described in paragraph (2) of this subsection for inspection and review by representatives of the third party concerned for the sole purposes of permitting the third party to verify— "(A) that the care or services for which recovery or collection is sought were furnished to the veteran; and "(B) that the provision of such care or services to the veteran meets criteria generally applicable under the health-plan contract involved. "(2) A veteran described in this paragraph is a veteran who is a beneficiary of a health-plan contract under which recovery or collection is sought under this section from the third party concerned for the cost of the care or services furnished to the veteran. "(3) Records shall be made available under this subsection under such conditions to protect the confidentiality of such records as the Administrator shall prescribe in regulations. "(i) For purposes of this section— "(1)(A) The term 'health-plan contract' means an insurance policy or contract, medical or hospital service agreement, membership or subscription contract, or similar arrangement, under which health services for individuals are provided or the expenses of such services are paid. "(B) Such term does not include— "(i) an insurance program described in section 1811 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395c) or established by section 1831 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1395j); "(ii) a State plan for medical assistance approved under title XIX of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.); "(iii) a workers' compensation law or plan described in subparagraph (A) of subsection (a)(2) of this section; or

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