Ask Veterans Act

To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct annual surveys of veterans on experiences obtaining hospital care and medical services from medical facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Ask Veterans Act 2. Survey of veterans’ experiences with Department of Veterans Affairs medical care (a) In general The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall seek to enter into a contract with a non-government entity with significant experience conducting scientifically verifiable surveys and research to conduct an annual survey of a statistically significant sample of veterans who reside in the geographic area served by each of the medical facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs to determine the nature of the experiences of such veterans in obtaining hospital care and medical services furnished by the Secretary at each such medical facility. Each such survey shall be conducted using scientific and verifiable methods. Such contract shall provide that the non-government entity shall conduct such annual surveys during the five-year period beginning on the date on which the Secretary enters into the contract with the non-government entity. (b) Contents The contract entered into under subsection (a) shall provide that each survey conducted pursuant to the contract shall be specific to a medical facility of the Department and shall include questions relating to the experiences of veterans in requesting and receiving appointments for hospital care and medical services furnished by the Secretary at that medical facility, including questions relating to each of the following: (1) The veteran’s ability to obtain hospital care and medical services at the facility in a timely manner. (2) The period of time between the date on which the veteran requests an appointment at the facility and the date on which the appointment is scheduled. (3) The frequency with which scheduled appointments are canceled by the facility. (4) The quality of hospital care or medical services the veteran has received at the facility. (c) Consultation The contract entered into under subsection (a) shall provide that in designing and conducting the surveys for each medical facility of the Department pursuant to such contract, the non-government entity shall consult with veterans service organizations. (d) Certification The contract entered into under subsection (a) shall provide that— (1) before conducting a survey pursuant to the contract, the non-government entity shall submit the proposed survey to the Comptroller General who shall assess whether the survey is scientifically valid and whether the proposed sample size of veterans to be surveyed is statistically significant; and (2) the non-government entity may not conduct such a survey until the Comptroller General provides such a certification for the survey. (e) Submittal of results and public availability of information Not later than 30 days after the completion of the surveys conducted pursuant to a contract entered into under subsection (a) for a year, the Secretary shall make the results of the surveys publicly available on the Internet website of the Department. (f) Paperwork reduction Subchapter I of chapter 35 (g) Deadline for implementation The Secretary shall enter into a contract under subsection (a) for each medical facility of the Department by not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.

Summary: Ask Veterans Act This bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to contract with an experienced non-government entity to conduct an annual survey, over a five-year period, to determine the experiences of veterans in obtaining hospital care and medical services at each VA medical facility. Those surveys shall include questions relating to: a veteran's ability to obtain hospital care and medical services at the facility in a timely manner, the time between the date the veteran requests an appointment and the date the appointment is scheduled, the frequency with which scheduled appointments are canceled, and the quality of hospital care or medical services received. The VA shall make the results of the surveys publicly available on the VA's Internet website.