Foreign Medical Program Integrity and Improvement Act

This bill aims to significantly enhance the oversight and integrity of the Department of Veterans Affairs' Foreign Medical Program. It mandates that payment rates for hospital care or medical services under the program be the lesser of the billed amount or the Medicare rate for comparable services, though the Secretary retains discretion to exceed this rate to ensure veteran access, especially in emergencies. Furthermore, the bill explicitly prohibits the use of federal funds to pay for care or services furnished to or by individuals listed in the Death Master File after their date of death, preventing improper payments. To combat fraud, waste, and abuse, the legislation requires the Secretary to refer suspicious claims to the Inspector General , allowing for payment withholding during investigations and recovery of funds for confirmed fraudulent claims. It also mandates the creation and electronic distribution of a list of providers who have submitted fraudulent claims, prohibiting future payments to them, and establishes a Fraud Detection and Prevention Coordinator . Additionally, the bill grants the Secretary authority to contract with third-party entities to serve as administrators for FMP claims and to access information technology systems for claims administration, with a one-year implementation deadline for such systems.