A bill to authorize the establishment in the Department of Veterans Affairs of a center for technical assistance for non-Department health care providers who furnish care to veterans in rural areas, and for other purposes.

Summary: Authorizes the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) a center for technical assistance to assist non-VA health providers who furnish care to veterans in rural areas. Makes the head of such center the Director of the Rural Veterans Health Care Technical Assistance Center. Requires the Secretary, in selecting the center's location, to give preference to a location that, among other things: (1) has a high number of veterans in rural and highly rural areas, and (2) is near one or more entities carrying out programs and activities relating to health care for rural populations.

SECTION 1. CENTER FOR TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOR NON-DEPARTMENT HEALTH 
              CARE PROVIDERS WHO FURNISH CARE TO VETERANS IN RURAL 
              AREAS.

    (a) Establishment in Department of Veterans Affairs Authorized.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may 
        establish in the Department of Veterans Affairs a center for 
        technical assistance to assist non-Department health providers 
        who furnish care to veterans in rural areas.
            (2) Designation.--The center authorized by paragraph (1) 
        may be known as the ``Rural Veterans Health Care Technical 
        Assistance Center'' (in this section referred to as the 
        ``Center'').
    (b) Director.--The head of the Center shall be the Director of the 
Rural Veterans Health Care Technical Assistance Center, who shall be 
appointed by the Secretary from among individuals who--
            (1) are qualified to carry out the duties of the Director; 
        and
            (2) have significant knowledge and experience working for 
        or with a non-Department health care provider that furnishes 
        care to veterans in rural areas.
    (c) Location.--The Secretary shall select the location of the 
Center. In selecting the location of the Center, the Secretary shall 
give preference to a location that--
            (1) has in place infrastructure appropriate for the 
        functions of the Center;
            (2) is located in a State that has--
                    (A) a high number of veterans in rural and highly 
                rural areas (including veterans not enrolled in the 
                system of annual patient enrollment established under 
                section 1705 of title 38, United States Code); and
                    (B) a history of strong collaboration--
                            (i) between the Veterans Health 
                        Administration and non-Department health 
                        providers who furnish care to veterans; and
                            (ii) between the Veterans Health 
                        Administration and a State institution of 
                        higher education that maintains links to or 
                        contracts with a State office of rural health 
                        and another rural health program; and
            (3) is in proximity to one or more entities carrying out 
        programs and activities relating to health care for rural 
        populations (including rural populations of veterans), 
        including an institution of higher education carrying out such 
        programs and activities that is willing to enter into a 
        partnership with the Center to assist and collaborate with the 
        Center in the discharge of its functions.
    (d) Functions.--The functions of the Center shall be as follows:
            (1) To develop and disseminate information, educational 
        materials, training programs, technical assistance and 
        materials, and other tools to improve access to health care 
        services for veterans in rural areas and to otherwise improve 
        the health care provided veterans by non-Department health care 
        providers.
            (2) To improve collaboration on health care matters, 
        including exchange of health information, for veterans 
        receiving health care from both Department and non-Department 
        providers of health care services between the Department and 
        other health care providers serving rural populations, 
        including rural health clinics, community health centers 
        serving rural populations, critical access hospitals serving 
        rural populations, small rural hospitals, telehealth networks, 
        and other rural health care providers and systems.
            (3) To establish and maintain Internet-based information 
        (including practical models, best practices, research results, 
        and other appropriate information) on mechanisms to improve 
        health care for veterans in rural areas.
            (4) To work with existing Government offices and agencies 
        on health care for rural populations and veterans health care, 
        including the Office of Rural Health of the Department of 
        Veterans Affairs and the Office of Rural Health Policy of the 
        Health Resources and Services Administration of the Department 
        of Health and Human Services, on programs, activities, and 
        other mechanisms for improving health care for rural veterans.
            (5) To track and monitor fee expenditures of the Department 
        relating to non-Department health care providers serving rural 
        populations and to evaluate the Center through the use of an 
        independent entity experienced and knowledgeable about rural 
        health care matters, such non-Department providers, and 
        programs and services of the Department.
    (e) Discharge of Functions Through Partnerships.--For purposes of 
discharging its functions under subsection (d), the Center may enter 
into partnerships with persons and entities (including small business 
concerns owned by veterans or veterans with service-connected 
disabilities) that have demonstrated expertise in the provision of 
educational and technical assistance for veterans in rural areas, 
health care providers serving rural populations, and persons and 
entities seeking to enter into contracts with the Federal Government in 
matters relating to the functions of the Center, including the 
provision of educational and technical assistance relating to 
telehealth, reimbursement for health care, improvement of quality of 
care, and contracting with the Federal Government.