H.R. 6526 — Clarity on Care Options Act

This section requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to direct each entity administering a network of health care providers under VA's community care program (38 U.S.C. §1703) to annually query network providers on whether they accept assignments under the CHAMPVA program (i.e., Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs, which provides health coverage to certain dependents and survivors of veterans)—with the first queries due within 90 days of enactment—and to submit results to the Secretary, who must then establish and maintain (with first directory published within 180 days of enactment) a publicly available directory of accepting providers. The section further requires the Secretary to submit annual reports to Congress for five years (first due one year after enactment) detailing, by state and Veterans Integrated Service Network: (1) the number of accepting providers; (2) percentages of accepting versus non-accepting providers; and (3) geographical areas with CHAMPVA beneficiaries but no accepting providers. (Thus, "accepting assignments" means agreeing to the CHAMPVA allowable amount as full payment for covered services.)