{
  "id": "RL32548",
  "type": "CRS Report",
  "typeId": "REPORTS",
  "number": "RL32548",
  "active": false,
  "source": "EveryCRSReport.com, University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department",
  "versions": [
    {
      "source": "EveryCRSReport.com",
      "id": 306054,
      "date": "2004-12-27",
      "retrieved": "2016-04-07T20:00:49.214602",
      "title": "Veterans' Medical Care Appropriations and Funding Process",
      "summary": "The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provides benefits to veterans who meet certain\neligibility\nrules. Benefits to veterans range from disability compensation and pensions to hospital and medical\ncare. VA provides these benefits to veterans through three major operating units: the Veterans\nHealth Administration (VHA), the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) and the National\nCemetery Administration (NCA). VHA is primarily a direct service provider of primary care,\nspecialized care, and related medical and social support services to veterans through an integrated\nhealth care system. Veterans are enrolled in priority groups that determine payments for service and\nnonservice-connected medical conditions. In FY2004, Congress appropriated $28.4 billion for VHA\nto be spent through an account structure composed of four new accounts: medical services, medical\nadministration, medical facilities, and medical and prosthetic research. \n For FY2005, the Administration submitted its budget request to Congress using a new account\nstructure that consolidated several accounts into two \"business lines\": medical care, and medical and\nprosthetic research. The Administration requested $29.1 billion for VHA for FY2005. \n On September 9, 2004, the House Committee on Appropriations reported the FY2005\nappropriations bill for the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development,\nand Independent Agencies for FY2005 ( H.R. 5041 ) ( H.Rept. 108-674 ). The Committee\nrejected the alternative appropriations structure recommended by the Administration and\nrecommended $30.3 billion for VA medical programs for FY2005. This is an increase of $1.2 billion\nover the President's request and $1.9 billion over FY2004. On September 21, 2004, the Senate\nCommittee on Appropriations reported its version of the FY2005 VA-HUD appropriations bill,\n S. 2825  ( S.Rept. 108-353 ). Under S.  2825, as reported, VHA would have\nreceived $30.4 billion in FY2005. This is a $2 billion increase from FY2004, and $1.2 billion more\nthan the President's request. On November 20, 2004, both the House and Senate adopted the\nconference agreement to accompany the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2005 ( H.R. 4818 ,  P.L. 108-447 ). The bill was signed into law on December 8, 2004. Under  P.L.108-447 , VHA\nwould receive $30.3 billion in FY2005 -- an increase of $1.2 billion over the FY2005 appropriation\nrequest, and $1.9 billion over FY2004.\n In its budget submission to Congress, the Administration also proposed several legislative and\nregulatory changes to increase certain copayments and other cost- sharing charges for lower-priority\nveterans and to reduce copays for certain veterans. The House and Senate Committees on\nAppropriations, and the final conference agreement did not accept any of the Administration's\ncost-sharing proposals for VHA. This report will not be updated.",
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      "typeId": "REPORTS",
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    },
    {
      "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department",
      "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc811144/",
      "id": "RL32548_2004Sep30",
      "date": "2004-09-30",
      "retrieved": "2016-03-19T13:57:26",
      "title": "Veterans\u2019 Medical Care Appropriations and Funding Process",
      "summary": null,
      "type": "CRS Report",
      "typeId": "REPORT",
      "active": false,
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  ],
  "topics": [
    "Appropriations",
    "Health Policy",
    "National Defense"
  ]
}