38 U.S.C. § 117 — Advance appropriations for certain accounts

(a) In General — For each fiscal year, the money Congress appropriates for the Department's "covered accounts" must: (1) be available for that same fiscal year; and (2) also include an advance amount, for each covered account, that only becomes available starting the fiscal year after the one the budget covers. (b) Estimates Required — In the documents supporting the President's budget, the Secretary must include detailed estimates of how much money the covered accounts will need for the fiscal year after the one the budget is for. (c) Covered Accounts of the Department — "Covered accounts" means these VA accounts: (1) Veterans Benefits Administration, Compensation and Pensions; (2) Veterans Benefits Administration, Readjustment Benefits; (3) Veterans Benefits Administration, Veterans Insurance and Indemnities; (4) Veterans Health Administration, Medical Services; (5) Veterans Health Administration, Medical Support and Compliance; (6) Veterans Health Administration, Medical Facilities; and (7) Veterans Health Administration, Medical Community Care. (d) Annual Report — By July 31 each year, the Secretary must send Congress a report on whether the Department will have enough money for medical care in the next fiscal year, including estimates of expected workload and demand for that year.