H.R. 4242 would increase the use of community health care and long-term care by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) by broadening eligibility for such care and allowing VA to enter into agreements with health care providers in the private sector without complying with the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR). The bill also would change VA’s coverage of ambulance services and transplant operations at nondepartment facilities. In addition, H.R. 4242 would allow VA to repay loans for and provide scholarships to its medical staff. In total, CBO estimates that implementing the bill would cost $38.8 billion over the 2018-2022 period, assuming appropriation of the necessary amounts.
Enacting the bill would not affect direct spending or revenues; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply.
CBO estimates that enacting H.R. 4242 would not increase net direct spending or on-budget deficits in any of the four consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2028.
