I 
112TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1298 
To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct cost-benefit analyses 
for the provision of medical care by the Department of Veterans Affairs 
in certain geographic areas served by multiple Department of Veterans 
Affairs medical facilities. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 31, 2011 
Mr. LOBIONDO (for himself, Mr. RUNYAN, Mr. ANDREWS, and Mr. SMITH of 
New Jersey) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com-
mittee on Veterans’ Affairs 
A BILL 
To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct cost- 
benefit analyses for the provision of medical care by 
the Department of Veterans Affairs in certain geographic 
areas served by multiple Department of Veterans Affairs 
medical facilities. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Veterans’ Efficiencies 
Through Savings Act of 2011’’ or the ‘‘VETS Act of 
2011’’. 
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SEC. 2. COST-BENEFIT ANALYSES REQUIRED FOR CERTAIN 
GEOGRAPHIC AREAS SERVED BY MULTIPLE 
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS MED-
ICAL FACILITIES. 
(a) COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS REQUIRED.—The Sec-
retary of Veterans Affairs shall conduct a cost-benefit 
analysis of the provision of medical care by the Depart-
ment of Veterans Affairs for the following geographic 
areas: 
(1) Any 75 square mile area where three or 
more Department outpatient clinics are located. 
(2) Any 100 square mile area where two or 
more Department hospitals are located. 
(b) CONTENTS OF ANALYSIS.—In conducting a cost- 
benefit analysis under subsection (a)— 
(1) for any area described in paragraph (1) of 
such subsection, the Secretary shall determine 
whether the benefits of operating all three clinics in 
the area outweigh the benefits of replacing such clin-
ics with one comprehensive outpatient clinic; 
(2) the Secretary shall consider the benefits of 
constructing a new Department hospital to serve vet-
erans residing in the area and the benefits of enter-
ing into an agreement with a non-Department hos-
pital for the provision of dedicated space within the 
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hospital to provide in-patient hospital care to vet-
erans residing in the area; and 
(3) the Secretary shall evaluate any agreements 
entered into with non-Department medical care pro-
viders to provide medical care to veterans residing in 
an area served by one or more of the outpatient clin-
ics or hospitals located in the area for which the 
analysis is conducted to determine whether to enter 
into such an agreement with any additional pro-
viders. 
(c) REPORT
TO
CONGRESS.—Not later than 6 
months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 
Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on any cost- 
benefit analysis conducted under this section. 
Æ 
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