The Military Construction, Military Quality of Life and Veterans Affairs AppropriationsAct, 2006 (MIL-CON-QUAL-VA Appropriations Act, P.L.109-114 ) was signed into law by thePresident on November 30, 2005. The MIL-CON-QUAL-VA Appropriations Act appropriated$22.5 billion for medical services, of which $1.2 billion was designated as an emergencyappropriation. The conference agreement includes$225 million for the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) to address recovery activities relatedto the hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico, and to prepare for a possible pandemic influenza outbreak,and excludes the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) programs from a 1% across-the-boardrescission for all non-emergency discretionary programs. (3) The Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2006 ( P.L.109-148 ) was signed into law on December 30, 2005. The total amount of funds available forVHA is $31.5 billion, including $2.2 billion in collections (copays and third-party insurancepayments). Background

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provides benefits to veterans who meet certaineligibility rules. Benefits to veterans range from disability compensation and pensions, education,training and rehabilitation services, hospital and medical care, and other benefits, such as home loanguarantees and death benefits that cover burial expenses. P.L.109-54 provided $1.5billion in supplemental appropriations for veterans medical services for FY2005, with carryoverauthority for FY2006 as well. FY2006 VHA Budget

		President's FY2006 Budget

The President's FY2006 budget requested $30.4 billion for VHA: $22.2 billion for medicalservices, $4.5 billion for medical administration, $3.3 billion for medical facilities, and $393 millionfor medical and prosthetic research. VHA medical care collections (e.g., copays, third-partyinsurance payments) for FY2006 are expected to be $2.2 billion. 2528 ,( H.Rept. The House passed H.R.2528 on May 26, 2005. On June 29, 2005 the Senate passed H.R. (23) 
In response to the FY2005 budget shortfall for VA medical services, on July 26, 2005, theconferees of the Department of the Interior, Environment and Related Agencies, Appropriations bill,2006 ( H.R. The totalamount recommended for VHA is composed of $23.3 billion for medical services including $1.97billion in "emergency appropriations" as requested by the President's budget amendment, (24) $2.9 billion for medicaladministration, $3.3 billion for medical facilities, $412 million for medical and prosthetic research,and $1.5 billion for information technology. Furthermore, the Committee did not approve any of the Administration's fee proposals. The total amount of funding available for VHA for FY2006, includingcollections, is $31.5 billion. a. e. On August 2, 2005, the FY2006 Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies appropriations bill ( H.R. 2361 , P.L.109-54 ) was signed into law. a. This change occurredwith the enactment of the Veterans Millennium Health Care and Benefits Act( P.L. Medical Administration.
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provides benefits to veterans who meet certaineligibility rules. Benefits to veterans range from disability compensation and pensions to hospitaland medical care. VA provides these benefits to veterans through three major operating units: theVeterans Health Administration (VHA), the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) and theNational Cemetery Administration (NCA). VHA is primarily a direct service provider of primarycare, specialized care, and related medical and social support services to veterans through anintegrated health care system.
The President's FY2006 budget requested $30.4 billion for VHA: $20.0 billion for medicalservices, $4.5 billion for medical administration, $3.3 billion for medical facilities, and $393 millionfor medical and prosthetic research. VHA medical care collections (e.g., copays, third-partyinsurance payments) for FY2006 are expected to be $2.2 billion.
On May 26, 2005, the House passed its version of H.R. 2528 , the MilitaryQuality of Life and Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies appropriations bill for FY2006. This billprovided $28.8 billion for VHA. On June 23, 2005, VA announced a budget shortfall of more than$1 billion from its FY2005 enacted level for veterans health programs. On August 2, 2005, theDepartment of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act ( P.L. 109-54 )was signed into law, providing $1.5 billion in supplemental appropriations for veterans medicalservices for FY2005.
On September 22, 2005, the Senate passed its version of H.R. 2528 , the MilitaryConstruction and Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies appropriations bill for FY2006. The Senateappropriated a total of $31.3 billion for VHA.
On November 30, 2005, the Military Construction, Military Quality of Life and VeteransAffairs Appropriations Act, 2006 ( P.L.109-114 ) was signed into law. This act provided $22.5 billionfor medical services, of which $1.2 billion was designated as an emergency appropriation. P.L.109-114 also appropriated $2.9 billion for medical administration, $3.3 billion for medical facilities,and $412 million for medical and prosthetic research. On December 30, 2005, the Department ofDefense Appropriations Act, 2006 ( P.L.109-148 , H.Rept. 109-359 ) was signed into law, providingan additional $225 million for VHA for FY2006 and excluding VA programs from a 1%across-the-board rescission for all non-emergency discretionary programs. The total amount of fundsappropriated for VHA for FY2006 is $29.3 billion. The total amount of funds available for VHAis $31.5 billion, including $2.2 billion in collections.
In its FY2006 budget submission to Congress, the Administration proposed severallegislative and regulatory changes to increase certain copayments and other cost-sharing charges forcertain veterans. P.L.109-114 did not include any of the Administration's cost-sharing proposals forVHA. This report will be not be updated.