Extension of period for submittal of claims by health care entities and providers

Section 1703D of title 38, United States Code, is amended— (a) in subsection (a)(2), by striking the reason for denying the claim and what, if any, additional information is required to process the claim and inserting the reason for denying the claim and request additional missing information, if any, that is required to process the claim; (b) by amending subsection (b) to read as follows: (b) Submittal of claims by health care entities and providers (1) A health care entity or provider that furnishes hospital care, a medical service, or an extended care service under this chapter pursuant to a contract, agreement, or other arrangement shall submit to the Secretary a claim for payment for furnishing the hospital care, medical service, or extended care service not later than one year after the date on which the entity or provider furnished the hospital care, medical service, or extended care service. (2) No health care entity or provider may seek payment from a patient if the health care entity or provider failed to comply with the timely filing requirement set forth in paragraph (1).; and (c) in subsection (c), by adding at the end the following new paragraph: (3) The Secretary may suspend a health care entity or provider from furnishing hospital care, medical services, and extended care services under this chapter if the Secretary has reason to believe the entity or provider has submitted to the Secretary fraudulent health care claims for payment by the Secretary..