Veterans Improved Access to Care Act of 2021

To amend the VA MISSION Act of 2018 to expand reporting on hiring in the Veterans Health Administration, and to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot program to expedite the onboarding process for new medical providers of the Veterans Health Administration, to reduce the duration of the hiring process for such medical providers, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Veterans Improved Access to Care Act of 2021 2. Expansion of quarterly update of information on staffing and vacancies at facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs to include information on duration of hiring process (a) Quarterly update Subsection (a)(1) of section 505 of the VA MISSION Act of 2018 ( Public Law 115–182 38 U.S.C. 301 (E) Beginning with any update under paragraph (3) on or after the date of the enactment of the Veterans Improved Access to Care Act of 2021 (i) For employees appointed under paragraphs (1) and (3) of section 7401 of title 38, United States Code, the number of employees for which the duration of the process from validation of vacancy to receipt of official offer and notification of actual start date exceeds the metrics laid out in the Time to Hire Model of the Veterans Health Administration, or successor model. (ii) The percentage of employees who are described in clause (i) compared to all employees appointed under paragraphs (1) and (3) of section 7401 of such title during the same period. (iii) The average number of days potential hires or new hires appointed under paragraphs (1) and (3) of section 7401 of such title spent in each phase of the Time to Hire Model, or successor model. . (b) Reduction in frequency of Inspector General reviews Subsection (a)(5) of such section is amended by striking a semi-annual basis an annual basis (c) Annual report Subsection (b) of such section is amended, in the first sentence, by adding before the period at the end the following: and to improve the onboard timeline for facilities for which the duration of the onboarding process exceeds the metrics laid out in the Time to Hire Model of the Veterans Health Administration, or successor model 3. Pilot program on expediting the Department of Veterans Affairs process for onboarding new medical providers (a) Pilot program authorized (1) In general Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall implement a pilot program to assess the feasibility and advisability of expediting the process of the Veterans Health Administration for onboarding new medical providers. (2) Goal for program Under the pilot program, the Secretary shall seek to reduce the length of time it takes to onboard medical providers to no more than 60 days. (3) Termination The pilot program shall terminate two years after implementation. The Secretary may extend the pilot program for two additional years if the Secretary submits to Congress written notification not later than 30 days before the beginning of such extension. (b) Locations (1) In general The Secretary shall select not fewer than ten medical facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs at which to carry out the pilot program. (2) Regional diversity The medical facilities selected under paragraph (1) shall be located in regionally diverse areas, as determined by the Secretary. (3) Population density Of the medical facilities selected under paragraph (1), at least three facilities shall be selected in areas with fewer than 100,000 people. (4) Priority In selecting medical facilities under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall give priority to medical facilities facing hiring shortages of licensed independent medical providers. (c) Interim briefings; final report The Secretary shall submit to Congress— (1) a briefing at the end of each year of the pilot program; and (2) a report at the termination of the pilot program. (d) Onboarding process defined In this section, the term onboarding process (1) certification of credentials; (2) background investigation; (3) assessment of health status; and (4) other actions the Secretary determines are necessary for starting employment. 4. Strategy to reduce duration of hiring process of Department of Veterans Affairs for licensed professional medical providers (a) In general Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to Congress a strategy to reduce the duration of the hiring process of the Department of Veterans Affairs for licensed professional medical providers by half. (b) Expedited certification The strategy submitted under subsection (a) shall describe how the process of the Department to certify the credentials of licensed professional medical providers may be expedited.

Summary: Veterans Improved Access to Care Act of 2021 This bill addresses the administration of the hiring process for Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) personnel. Under current law, the VA is required to publish on a VA website specified information related to staffing and the duration of the hiring process for certain health care appointees, such as physicians. The bill requires the VA Office of Inspector General to review the administration of such website annually instead of the current semiannual requirement. The VA must implement a two-year pilot program to assess the feasibility and advisability of expediting the Veterans Health Administration's onboarding process for new medical providers. Finally, the bill requires the VA to submit a strategy to reduce by half the duration of the VA's hiring process for licensed professional medical providers.