To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to coordinate with the Secretary of Health and Human Services in administering the Veterans Community Care Program, and for other purposes.

VA and Medicare coordination for veterans

Not later than one year after enactment, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs would seek a memorandum of understanding with HHS to allow reciprocal data access between the VA and CMS for veterans enrolled in the VA patient enrollment system under 38 U.S.C. 1705(a) and in Medicare or a Medicare Advantage plan. The VA would use the shared data to help prevent duplicative health care and duplicate or erroneous payments. The VA would also use the information to identify specialized Medicare Advantage plans for special needs individuals that offer benefits important to veteran health, requiring plans to include at least three listed service categories (for example: hearing aids, traumatic brain injury rehabilitation, adaptive sports equipment). The bill would authorize named coordination offices inside VA and CMS to manage dual-eligibility work. The provision does not itself appropriate money.