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<PRE>[DOCID: f:s1408is.txt]






107th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 1408

   To amend title 38, United States Code, to standardize the income 
  threshold for copayment for outpatient medications with the income 
 threshold for inability to defray necessary expenses of care, and for 
                            other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           September 6, 2001

Mr. Rockefeller introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
             referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
   To amend title 38, United States Code, to standardize the income 
  threshold for copayment for outpatient medications with the income 
 threshold for inability to defray necessary expenses of care, and for 
                            other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Veterans' Copayment Adjustment 
Act''.

SEC. 2. STANDARDIZATION OF INCOME THRESHOLDS FOR COPAYMENT FOR 
              OUTPATIENT MEDICATIONS AND FOR INABILITY TO DEFRAY 
              NECESSARY EXPENSES OF CARE.

    (a) Standardization.--Section 1722A(a)(3)(B) of title 38, United 
States Code, is amended to read as follows:
            ``(B) to a veteran whose attributable income is not greater 
        than the amount provided for in subsection (b) of section 1722 
        of this title, as adjusted from time to time under subsection 
        (c) of that section.''.
    (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) shall 
take effect on January 1, 2002, and shall apply with respect to 
calendar years beginning on or after that date.

SEC. 3. LIMITATION ON IMPLEMENTATION OF INCREASE IN COPAYMENTS FOR 
              OUTPATIENT MEDICATIONS PENDING COLLECTION OF COPAYMENTS 
              FOR OUTPATIENT CARE.

    Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs may not implement under section 1722A(b)(1) of title 
38, United States Code, an increase in the copayment amount for 
medications furnished on an outpatient basis under section 1722A(a) of 
that title until the Secretary commences collection of amounts for 
outpatient visits for medical services under section 1710(g) of that 
title.
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