,i  #aae? ,,congress  #a/ ,session  ,h4 
,r4 #bdai  ,,9 ,,! ,,h\se ,,(           
,,repres5tatives  ,may #aa1 #bjag,mr4   
,r\z] introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2 :i* 0    
ref]r$ to ! ,committee on ,vet]ans'     
,affairs  ,a ,,bill  ,to am5d title #ch1
 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 to improve !      
process by :i* ! ,secret>y ( ,vet]ans   
,affairs pays non-,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans  
,affairs heal? c>e provid]s = hospital  
c>e or m$ical s]vices furni%$ to vet]ans
 pursuant to ! laws adm9i/]$ by !       
,secret>y4  #a4 ,paym5t ( non-,dep>tm5t 
( ,vet]ans ,affairs heal? c>e provid]s  
7a7 ,paym5t ( provid]s  7#a7 ,9 g5]al   
,sub*apt] ,i ( *apt] #ag ( title #ch1   
,unit$ ,/ates ,code is am5d$ by ins]t+  
aft] section #agjc ! foll[+ new section3
  #agjc;,a4 ,paym5t ( non-,dep>tm5t     
heal? c>e provid]s  7a7 ,prompt paym5t  
compliance ,! ,secret>y %all ensure t   
paym5ts made to non-,dep>tm5t heal? c>e 
provid]s1 includ+ "u ! ,vet]ans ,*oice  
,program e/abli%$ by section #aja ( !   
,vet]ans ,access1 ,*oice1 &             

,acc\ntability ,act ( #bjad 7,public    
,law #aac-adf2 #ch ,u4,s4,c4 #agja      
note71 comply ) *apt] #ci ( title #ca   
7commonly ref]r$ to z ! ,prompt ,paym5t 
,act7 & ! requirem5ts ( ?is section4 ,if
 !re is a conflict betwe5 ! requirem5ts 
( ! ,prompt ,paym5t ,act & ! requirem5ts
 ( ?is section1 ! ,secret>y %all comply 
) ! requirem5ts ( ?is section4  7b7     
,paym5t s*$ule  7#a7 ,! ,secret>y %all  
reimburse a non-,dep>tm5t heal? c>e     
provid] = c>e or s]vices furni%$ "u !   
laws adm9i/]$ by ! ,secret>y--  7,a7 9 !
 case ( a clean claim submitt$ to !     
,secret>y electronically1 n lat] ?an #cj
 days aft] receiv+ ! claim2 or  7,b7 9 !
 case ( a clean claim submitt$ to !     
,secret>y 9 a mann] o!r ?an             
electronically1 n lat] ?an #de days aft]
 receiv+ ! claim4  7#b7  7,a7 ,if !     
,secret>y det]m9es t a claim receiv$ f a
 non-,dep>tm5t heal? c>e provid] is a   
non-clean claim1 ! ,secret>y %all submit
 to ! provid]1 n lat] ?an #aj days aft] 
receiv+ ! claim--  7i7 a notification t 

! claim is a non-clean claim2  7ii7 an  
explanation ( :y ! claim has be5 det]m9$
 to be a non-clean claim2 &  7iii7 an   
id5tification ( ! in=mation or          
docum5tation t is requir$ to make !     
claim a clean claim4  7,b7 ,if !        
,secret>y does n comply ) ! requirem5ts 
( subp>agraph 7,a7 ) respect to a claim1
 ! claim %all be deem$ a clean claim =  
purposes ( p>agraph 7#a74  7#c7 ,^u     
receipt by ! ,secret>y ( in=mation or   
docum5tation describ$ 9 subp>agraph     
7,a77iii7 ) respect to a claim1 !       
,secret>y %all reimburse a non-,dep>tm5t
 heal? c>e provid]--  7,a7 9 ! case ( a 
claim submitt$ to ! ,secret>y           
electronically1 n lat] ?an #cj days aft]
 receiv+ su* in=mation or docum5tation2 
or  7,b7 9 ! case ( claim submitt$ to ! 
,secret>y 9 a mann] o!r ?an             
electronically1 n lat] ?an #de days aft]
 receiv+ su* in=mation or docum5tation4 
7#d7 ,if ! ,secret>y fails to comply ) !
 deadl9es = paym5t set =? 9 ?is         
subsection ) respect to a claim1 int]e/ 

%all accrue on ! am\nt ow$ "u su* claim 
9 accordance ) section #cijb ( title    
#ca4  7c7 ,in=mation & docum5tation     
requir$  7#a7 ,pursuant to regulations  
prescrib$ by ! ,secret>y1 ! ,secret>y   
%all provide to non-,dep>tm5t heal? c>e 
provid]s t furni% hospital c>e or m$ical
 s]vices to vet]ans pursuant to ! laws  
adm9i/]$ by ! ,secret>y in=mation &     
docum5tation t is requir$ to e/abli% a  
clean claim "u ?is section4  7#b7 ,!    
,secret>y %all consult ) entities 9 !   
heal? c>e indu/ry1 9 ! public & private 
sector1 to det]m9e ! in=mation &        
docum5tation to include 9 ! li/ "u      
p>agraph 7#a74  7d7 ,electronic claim   
submittal ,on & aft] ,janu>y #a1 #bjai1 
! ,secret>y %all n accept any claim "u  
?is section t is submitt$ to ! ,secret>y
 9 a mann] o!r ?an electronically4  7e7 
,def9itions ,9 ?is section3 7#a7 ,! t]m 
clean claim means a claim = reimbursem5t
 = hospital c>e or m$ical s]vices       
furni%$ by non-,dep>tm5t heal? c>e      
provid]s to vet]ans pursuant to ! laws  

adm9i/]$ by ! ,secret>y1 on a nationally
 recogniz$ /&>d =mat1 t includes !      
in=mation & docum5tation necess>y to    
adjudicate ! claim4  7#b7 ,! t]m        
non-clean claim means a claim =         
reimbursem5t = hospital c>e or m$ical   
s]vices furni%$ by non-,dep>tm5t heal?  
c>e provid]s to vet]ans pursuant to !   
laws adm9i/]$ by ! ,secret>y1 on a      
nationally recogniz$ /&>d =mat1 t does n
 include ! in=mation & docum5tation     
necess>y to adjudicate ! claim4  4  7#b7
 ,cl]ical am5dm5t ,! table ( sections at
 ! beg9n+ ( *apt] #ag ( su* title is    
am5d$ by ins]t+ aft] ! item relat$ to   
section #agjc ! foll[+ new item3        
#agjc;,a4 ,paym5t ( non-,dep>tm5t heal? 
c>e provid]s4  4  7b7 ,electronic       
submittal ( claims = reimbursem5t  7#a7 
,prohibition on acceptance (            
non-electronic claims  7,a7 ,9 g5]al    
,except z provid$ 9 subp>agraph 7,b71 on
 & aft] ,janu>y #a1 #bjai1 ! ,secret>y (
 ,vet]ans ,affairs %all n accept any    
claim = reimbursem5t "u section #agjc;,a

 ( title #ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 z    
add$ by subsection 7a71 t is submitt$ to
 ! ,secret>y 9 a mann] o!r ?an          
electronically1 includ+ m$ical records 9
 connection ) su* a claim4  7,b7        
,exception ,if ! ,secret>y det]m9es t   
accept+ claims & m$ical records 9 a     
mann] o!r ?an electronically is necess>y
 = ! timely process+ ( claims =         
reimbursem5t "u su* section #agjc;,a due
 to a failure or malfunction ( !        
electronic int]face e/abli%$ "u p>agraph
 7#b71 ! ,secret>y--  7i7 may accept    
claims & m$ical records 9 a mann] o!r   
?an electronically = a p]iod n to exce$ 
#ij days2 &  7ii7 %all submit to !      
,committee on ,vet]ans' ,affairs ( !    
,s5ate & ! ,committee on ,vet]ans'      
,affairs ( ! ,h\se ( ,repres5tatives a  
report sett+ =?--  7,i7 ! reason =      
accept+ claims & m$ical records 9 a     
mann] o!r ?an electronically2  7,,ii7 ! 
duration ( "t t ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans  
,affairs w accept claims & m$ical       
records 9 a mann] o!r ?an               

electronically2 &  7,,iii7 ! /eps t !   
,dep>tm5t is tak+ to resolve su* failure
 or malfunction4  7#b7 ,electronic      
int]face  7,a7 ,9 g5]al ,n lat] ?an     
,janu>y #a1 #bjai1 ! ,*ief ,in=mation   
,(fic] ( ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs
 %all e/abli% & make op]ational an      
electronic int]face = heal? c>e provid]s
 to submit claims = reimbursem5t "u su* 
section #agjc;,a4  7,b7 ,functions ,!   
electronic int]face e/abli%$ "u         
subp>agraph 7,a7 %all include ! foll[+  
functions3 7i7 ,a function ?r\gh :i* a  
heal? c>e provid] may input all relevant
 data requir$ = claims submittal &      
reimbursem5t4  7ii7 ,a function ?r\gh   
:i* a heal? c>e provid] may upload      
m$ical records to accompany a claim =   
reimbursem5t4  7iii7 ,a function ?r\gh  
:i* a heal? c>e provid] may asc]ta9 !   
/atus ( a p5d+ claim = reimbursem5t t-- 
7,i7 indicates :e!r ! claim is a clean  
claim or a non-clean claim2 &  7,,ii7 9 
! ev5t t a submitt$ claim is indicat$ z 
a non-clean claim1 provides--  7aa7 an  

explanation ( :y ! claim has be5 det]m9$
 to be a non-clean claim2 &  7bb7 an    
id5tification ( ! in=mation or          
docum5tation t is requir$ to make !     
claim a clean claim4  7iv7 ,a function  
?r\gh :i* a heal? c>e provid] is notifi$
 :5 a claim = reimbursem5t is accept$ or
 reject$4  7v7 ,su* o!r features z !    
,secret>y consid]s necess>y4  7,c7      
,protection ( in=mation  7i7 ,9 g5]al ,!
 electronic int]face e/abli%$ "u        
subp>agraph 7,a7 %all be develop$ &     
implem5t$ bas$ on indu/ry-accept$       
in=mation security & privacy eng9e]+    
pr9ciples & be/ practices & %all provide
 = ! foll[+3  7,i7 ,! elicitation1      
analysis1 & prioritization ( functional 
& nonfunctional in=mation security &    
privacy requirem5ts = su* int]face1     
includ+ specific security & privacy     
s]vices & ar*itectural requirem5ts      
relat+ to security & privacy bas$ on a  
?or\gh analysis ( all reasonably        
anticipat$ cyb] & noncyb] ?reats to !   
security & privacy ( electronic protect$

 heal? in=mation made available ?r\gh   
su* int]face4  7,,ii7 ,! elicitation1   
analysis1 & prioritization ( secure     
developm5t requirem5ts relat+ to su*    
int]face4  7,,iii7 ,! assurance t !     
prioritiz$ in=mation security & privacy 
requirem5ts ( su* int]face-- 7aa7 are   
correctly implem5t$ 9 ! design &        
implem5tation ( su* int]face ?r\gh\t !  
sy/em developm5t lifecycle2 &  7bb7     
satisfy ! in=mation objectives ( su*    
int]face relat+ to security & privacy   
?r\gh\t ! sy/em developm5t lifecycle4   
7ii7 ,def9itions ,9 ?is subp>agraph3    
7,i7 ,electronic protect$ heal?         
in=mation ,! t]m electronic protect$    
heal? in=mation has ! mean+ giv5 t t]m 9
 section #afj4ajc ( title #de1 ,code (  
,f$]al ,regulations1 z 9 effect on !    
date ( ! enactm5t ( ?is ,act4  7,,ii7   
,secure developm5t requirem5ts ,! t]m   
secure developm5t requirem5ts means1 )  
respect to ! electronic int]face        
e/abli%$ "u subp>agraph 7,a71 activities
 t are requir$ to be complet$ dur+ !    

sy/em developm5t lifecycle ( su*        
int]face1 su* z secure cod+ pr9ciples & 
te/ me?odologies4  7#c7 ,analysis (     
available te*nology = electronic        
int]face  7,a7 ,9 g5]al ,n lat] ?an     
,janu>y #a1 #bjah1 or be=e ent]+ into a 
contract to procure or design & build ! 
electronic int]face describ$ 9 p>agraph 
7#b7 or mak+ a decision to int]nally    
design & build su* electronic int]face1 
:i*ev] occurs fir/1 ! ,secret>y %all--  
7i7 conduct an analysis ( comm]cially   
available te*nology t may satisfy !     
requirem5ts ( su* electronic int]face   
set =? 9 su* p>agraph2 &  7ii7 submit to
 ! ,committee on ,vet]ans' ,affairs ( ! 
,s5ate & ! ,committee on ,vet]ans'      
,affairs ( ! ,h\se ( ,repres5tatives a  
report sett+ =? su* analysis4  7,b7     
,elem5ts ,! report requir$ "u           
subp>agraph 7,a77ii7 %all include !     
foll[+3 7i7 ,an evaluation ( comm]cially
 available sy/ems t may satisfy !       
requirem5ts ( p>agraph 7#b74  7ii7 ,!   
e/imat$ co/ ( procur+ a comm]cially     

available sy/em if a suitable           
comm]cially available sy/em exi/s4      
7iii7 ,if no suitable comm]cially       
available sy/em exi/s1 an assessm5t ( ! 
feasibility ( modify+ a comm]cially     
available sy/em to meet ! requirem5ts ( 
p>agraph 7#b71 includ+ ! e/imat$ co/    
associat$ ) su* modifications4  7iv7 ,if
 no suitable comm]cially available sy/em
 exi/s & modify+ a comm]cially available
 sy/em is n feasible1 an assessm5t ( !  
e/imat$ co/ & "t t w\ld be requir$ to   
contract ) a comm]cial entity to design 
& build an electronic int]face t meets !
 requirem5ts ( p>agraph 7#b74  7v7 ,if !
 ,secret>y det]m9es t ! ,dep>tm5t has ! 
capabilities requir$ to design & build  
an electronic int]face t meets !        
requirem5ts ( p>agraph 7#b71 an         
assessm5t ( ! e/imat$ co/ & "t t w\ld be
 requir$ to design & build su*          
electronic int]face4  7vi7 ,a           
description ( ! decision ( ! ,secret>y  
reg>d+ h[ ! ,dep>tm5t plans to e/abli% !
 electronic int]face requir$ "u p>agraph

 7#b7 & ! ju/ification ( ! ,secret>y =  
su* decision4  7#d7 ,limitation on use (
 am\nts ,! ,secret>y may n sp5d any     
am\nts to procure or design & build !   
electronic int]face describ$ 9 p>agraph 
7#b7 until ! date t is #fj days aft] !  
date on :i* ! ,secret>y submits ! report
 requir$ "u p>agraph 7#c77;,a77iii74    
7c7 ,cl>ification ( application (       
,,hipaa transaction /&>ds to ,vet]ans   
,*oice ,program & o!r vet]ans heal? c>e 
programs us+ non-,dep>tm5t provid]s2    
address+ multi-,ye> backlog 9 claims    
7#a7 ,application ( ,,hipaa adm9i/rative
 simplification /&>ds  7,a7 ,9 g5]al ,! 
def9ition ( ! t]m heal? plan "u section 
#aaga7e77;,j7 ( ! ,social ,security ,act
 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #acbj;d7#e77;,j77 is    
deem$ to include ! ,vet]ans ,*oice      
,program4  7,b7 ,implem5tation ,n lat]  
?an #ij days aft] ! date ( ! enactm5t ( 
?is ,act1 ! ,secret>y ( ,vet]ans        
,affairs %all make su* modifications z  
may be necess>y to implem5t ! am5dm5t   
made by subp>agraph 7,a7 ) respect to   

claims = hospital c>e or m$ical treatm5t
 furni%$ "u ! ,vet]ans ,*oice ,program4 
7#b7 ,address+ backlog ( claims by      
non-dep>tm5t provid]s  7,a7             
,adjudication ,n lat] ?an #ahj days aft]
 ! date ( ! enactm5t ( ?is section1 !   
,secret>y %all adjudicate all claims    
submitt$ be=e su* date ( enactm5t by    
non-,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs heal? 
c>e provid] "u ! ,vet]ans ,*oice        
,program4  7,b7 ,use ( paym5t s*$ule =  
non-dep>tm5t heal? c>e provid]s ,section
 #agjc;,a7b7 ( title #ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates 
,code1 z add$ by subsection 7a77#a71    
%all apply to claims adjudicat$ pursuant
 to subp>agraph 7,a71 except t !        
timeframe involv$ %all beg9 on ! date ( 
su* adjudication4  7#c7 ,vet]ans ,*oice 
,program def9$ ,9 ?is subsection1 ! t]m 
,vet]ans ,*oice ,program means hospital 
c>e or m$ical treatm5t furni%$ to       
vet]ans pursuant to section #aja ( !    
,vet]ans ,access1 ,*oice1 &             
,acc\ntability ,act ( #bjad 7,public    
,law #aac-adf2 #ch ,u4,s4,c4 #agja note7

 or any o!r law adm9i/]$ by ! ,secret>y 
( ,vet]ans ,affairs "u :i* a            
non-,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs heal? 
c>e provid] furni%es su* c>e or s]vices4