Bill > HR1822

This bill, the Preserving Lawful Utilization of Services for Veterans Act of 2023 (also known as the PLUS for Veterans Act of 2023), aims to improve the review of claims for benefits administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The key provisions of the bill are: 1. Clarifying that the administration of medical examinations and the writing of reports for VA claims do not constitute the "preparation, presentation, or prosecution" of a claim, which is regulated under existing law. 2. Requiring the VA to determine within 90 days whether to recognize an agent or attorney who applies for recognition to represent veterans in claims, and prohibiting the VA from refusing to recognize an agent or attorney solely based on the fact that they charge a fee. 3. Allowing the VA to suspend recognized agents or attorneys without a hearing if the VA subsequently determines they do not meet the qualifications and standards. 4. Establishing a $12,500 (adjusted for inflation) cap on the fees that agents or attorneys can charge veterans for VA claims, with certain exceptions, and requiring the VA to provide specific notifications to veterans regarding free services and restrictions on referrals. 5. Reinstating penalties, including fines and imprisonment, for individuals who directly or indirectly charge unauthorized fees related to VA claims.