23-07-2025
VA To Examine Health Payments To Veterans
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has announced a new partnership with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) aimed at eliminating duplicate health care billing.
The VA said on Tuesday that the agencies had identified $106 million spent on duplicate billings over the past six years for veterans enrolled in both VA health care and Medicare.
It added that it will start to send bills to overpaid providers to recover the money from this month.
Newsweek contacted VA and CMS for comment via email outside of regular working hours.
Stock image. The VA has announced a new partnership with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services aimed at eliminating duplicate health care billing for veterans.
Stock image. The VA has announced a new partnership with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services aimed at eliminating duplicate health care billing for veterans.
dangutsu/Getty Images
Why It Matters
Federal officials said the recovery effort will both recoup taxpayer funds and help redirect resources towards veterans and Medicare benefits.
Officials also said that the partnership will reduce waste and redundant paperwork.
What To Know
Approximately 5.9 million veterans are enrolled in both VA health care and Medicare, both of which pay for a variety of medical care from third-party providers.
Until now, there was no centralized system in place to prevent double billing, which enabled overpayments to go unnoticed.
The agencies have now established a data-matching agreement to spot when medical providers submit claims for payment to both VA and Medicare, aiming to prevent future overlapping claims.
In addition to payment reforms, the VA announced on Tuesday that it had awarded more than $2 million in new grants to seven educational and research organizations as part of the Veterans Legacy Program.
These grants aim to memorialize veterans through documentaries, digital storytelling, and educational projects that focus on veterans' contributions.
What People Are Saying
VA Secretary Doug Collins said in a statement: "We are proud to implement this commonsense reform, which should have been instituted years ago but is only happening now under the leadership of President Trump. The money we save as a result of this effort will be much better spent helping VA and Medicare beneficiaries get the benefits they've earned."
CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz said: "For too long, government programs have operated in silos, enabling improper payments to slip through the cracks at the expense of taxpayers. Under President Trump's leadership, CMS is proud to partner with the VA to root out duplicate billing, recover taxpayer funds, and reduce redundant paperwork and waste so American Veterans and seniors receive the care they deserve."
What Happens Next
The VA and CMS plan to recover improper payments from providers has already begun.
