Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 113 Part 3.djvu/52

 113 STAT. 1570 PUBLIC LAW 106-117—NOV. 30, 1999 (2) An assessment of the means by which cooperation between the depsirtments in such procurement could be enhanced or improved. (3) A description of any existing memoranda of agreement between the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense that provide for the cooperation referred to in subsection (a). (4) A description of the effects, if any, such agreements will have on current staffing levels at the Defense Supply Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and the Department of Veterans Affairs National Acquisition Center in Hines, Illinois. (5) A description of the effects, if any, of such cooperation on military readiness. (6) A comprehensive assessment of cost savings realized and projected over the five fiscal year period beginning in fiscal year 1999 for the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense as a result of such cooperation, and the overall savings to the Treasury of the United States as a result of such cooperation. (7) A list of the types of medical supplies and pharmaceuticals for which cooperative agreements would not be appropriate and the reason or reasons therefor. (8) An assessment of the extent to which cooperative agreements could be expanded to include medical equipment, major systems, and durable goods used in the delivery of health care by the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense. (9) A description of the effects such agreements might have on distribution of items purchased cooperatively by the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense, particularly outside the continental United States. (10) An assessment of the potential to establish common pharmaceutical formularies between the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense. (11) An explanation of the current Uniform Product Number (UPN) requirements of each Department and of any Elanned standardization of such requirements between the departments for medical equipment and durable goods manufacturers. SEC. 211. REIMBURSEMENT OF MEDICAL EXPENSES OF VETERANS LOCATED IN ALASKA. (a) PRESERVATION OF CURRENT REIMBURSEMENT RATES.— Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary shall, for purposes of reimbursing veterans in Alaska for medical expenses under section 1728 of title 38, United States Code, during the one-year period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act, use the fee-for-service payment schedule in effect for such purposes on July 31, 1999, rather than the Participating Physician Fee Schedule under the Medicare program. Deadline. (b) REPORT.— (1) Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall jointly submit to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the House of Representatives a report and recommendation on the use of the Psirticipating Physician Fee Schedule under the Medicare program as a means of calculating reimbursement rates for medical

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