H.R. 9524 — Veterans Care and Cost Coordination Act of 2026

This section requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to seek a memorandum of understanding with the Secretary of Health and Human Services within one year for reciprocal data sharing on veterans concurrently enrolled in the VA patient enrollment system and Medicare or a Medicare Advantage plan. It directs the VA Secretary to use the data to coordinate care and avoid duplicative payments under the Veterans Community Care Program. It requires the HHS Secretary to incorporate the transmitted information when calculating Medicare Advantage benchmark payments under 42 U.S.C. 1395w–23(c)(1)(D)(iii). It mandates biennial reports to the House and Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committees on the memorandum’s effectiveness.