H. R. 7105—68 
(5) create an online information page about the pilot pro-
gram on the internet website of the Department; 
(6) publish on the online information page created under 
paragraph (5) the locations of such centers, and other informa-
tion on the pilot program, not later than 180 days before 
the date on which applications are required to be submitted 
by potential student observers; 
(7) identify medical centers and specific health profes-
sionals participating in the pilot program; and 
(8) notify the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the House 
of Representatives and the Senate of the medical centers 
selected under subsection (c) within 30 days of selection, to 
facilitate program awareness. 
(f) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after the completion of 
the pilot program under subsection (a), the Secretary shall submit 
to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representa-
tives and the Senate a report on the results of the pilot program, 
including— 
(1) the number and demographics of all applicants, those 
accepted to participate in the pilot program, and those who 
completed the pilot program; and 
(2) if participating institutions of higher education choose 
to administer satisfaction surveys that assess the experience 
of those who completed the pilot program, the results of any 
such satisfaction surveys, provided at the discretion of the 
institution of higher education. 
(g) SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS 
AFFAIRS PILOT PROGRAM FOR CLINICAL OBSERVATION BY UNDER-
GRADUATE STUDENTS.—It is the sense of Congress that the pilot 
program described in subsection (a) should be designed to— 
(1) increase the awareness, knowledge, and empathy of 
future health professionals toward the health conditions 
common to veterans; 
(2) increase the diversity of the recruitment pool of future 
physicians of the Department; and 
(3) expand clinical observation opportunities for all stu-
dents by encouraging students of all backgrounds to consider 
a career in the health professions. 
(h) NO ADDITIONAL FUNDS AUTHORIZED.—No additional funds 
are authorized to be appropriated to carry out the requirements 
of this section. Such requirements shall be carried out using 
amounts otherwise authorized to be appropriated. 
Subtitle B—Scheduling and Consult 
Management 
SEC. 3101. PROCESS AND REQUIREMENTS FOR SCHEDULING APPOINT-
MENTS FOR HEALTH CARE FROM DEPARTMENT OF VET-
ERANS AFFAIRS AND NON-DEPARTMENT HEALTH CARE. 
(a) PROCESS AND REQUIREMENTS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 60 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
shall— 
(A) establish a process and requirements for scheduling 
appointments for—
H. R. 7105—69 
(i) health care from the Department of Veterans 
Affairs; and 
(ii) health care furnished through the Veterans 
Community Care Program under section 1703 of title 
38, United States Code, by a non-Department health 
care provider; and 
(B) submit to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of 
the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the 
House of Representatives a description of such process 
and requirements. 
(2) ELEMENTS
OF
DESCRIPTION.—The description of the 
process and requirements for scheduling appointments for 
health care required to be submitted under paragraph (1)(B) 
shall include— 
(A) information on how such process and requirements 
take into account the access standards established under 
section 1703B of title 38, United States Code; and 
(B) the maximum number of days allowed to complete 
each step of such process. 
(3) PERIODIC REVISION.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may revise the process 
and requirements required under paragraph (1) as the 
Secretary considers necessary. 
(B) SUBMITTAL TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 30 days 
before revising the process and requirements under 
subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall submit to the Com-
mittee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Com-
mittee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives 
a description of such revised process and requirements, 
including a description of any modifications to the certifi-
cation and training under subsection (b). 
(b) CERTIFICATION AND TRAINING ON PROCESS AND REQUIRE-
MENTS.— 
(1) CERTIFICATION.—Not later than one year after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall require each 
individual involved in the scheduling of appointments for health 
care from the Department or health care described in subsection 
(a)(1)(A)(ii), including schedulers, clinical coordinators, and 
supervisors, to certify to the Secretary that the individual 
understands the process and requirements established under 
subsection (a), including the maximum number of days allowed 
to complete each step of such process. 
(2) NEW
EMPLOYEES.—The Secretary shall require each 
employee hired by the Department on or after the date of 
the enactment of this Act who is to be involved in the scheduling 
of appointments for health care from the Department or health 
care described in subsection (a)(1)(A)(ii)— 
(A) to undergo training on the process and require-
ments established under subsection (a) as part of training 
for the position for which the employee has been hired; 
and 
(B) to make the certification to the Secretary required 
under paragraph (1). 
(c) METHOD TO MONITOR COMPLIANCE.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish 
or maintain a method or tool—
H. R. 7105—70 
(A) to enable monitoring of the compliance of the 
Department with the process and requirements established 
under subsection (a), including compliance with policies 
of the Department relating to the maximum number of 
days allowed to complete each step of such process; and 
(B) to ensure that each medical facility of the Depart-
ment complies with such process and requirements. 
(2) USE THROUGHOUT DEPARTMENT.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary shall require each 
medical facility of the Department to use the method or 
tool described in paragraph (1). 
(B) REPORT.—Not later than one year after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit 
to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and 
the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Rep-
resentatives a report indicating whether each medical 
facility of the Department is using the method or tool 
described in paragraph (1). 
(d) COMPTROLLER GENERAL REPORT.—Not later than two years 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General 
of the United States shall submit to the Committee on Veterans’ 
Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of 
the House of Representatives a report on the compliance of the 
Secretary with the requirements of this section. 
SEC. 3102. AUDITS REGARDING SCHEDULING OF APPOINTMENTS AND 
MANAGEMENT OF CONSULTATIONS FOR HEALTH CARE 
FROM DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS AND NON- 
DEPARTMENT HEALTH CARE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than each of one year and two 
years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary 
of Veterans Affairs shall provide for the conduct of a facility-level 
audit of the scheduling of appointments and the management of 
consultations for health care under the laws administered by the 
Secretary. 
(b) APPLICATION.— 
(1) FIRST AUDIT.—The first audit required under subsection 
(a) shall apply to each medical facility of the Department of 
Veterans Affairs. 
(2) SECOND AUDIT.—The second audit required under sub-
section (a) shall apply to only those medical facilities of the 
Department that are in need of corrective action based on 
the first audit, as determined by the Secretary. 
(c) ELEMENTS.—Each audit conducted under subsection (a) shall 
include the following: 
(1) With respect to each medical center of the Department 
covered by the audit, an assessment of any scheduling or con-
sultation management issues at that medical center, including 
the following: 
(A) An assessment of noncompliance with policies of 
the Veterans Health Administration relating to scheduling 
appointments and managing consultations. 
(B) An assessment of the extent to which appointments 
or consultations are not timely processed. 
(C) A description of any backlogs in appointments or 
consultations that are awaiting action.
H. R. 7105—71 
(D) An assessment of whether consultations are appro-
priately processed. 
(E) Data with respect to consultations as follows: 
(i) Consultations that were scheduled within the 
request window. 
(ii) Duplicate consultation requests. 
(iii) Consultations that were discontinued. 
(iv) Delays in consultations. 
(v) Consultations that were not properly closed 
or discontinued, including a description of remediation 
attempts. 
(F) A review for accuracy with respect to consultation 
management as follows: 
(i) A review of the accuracy of the type of service, 
either administrative or clinical, that is inputted in 
the electronic health record. 
(ii) A review of the accuracy of the type of consulta-
tion setting, either impatient or outpatient, that is 
inputted in the electronic health record. 
(iii) A review of the appropriateness of the level 
of urgency of the consultation that is inputted in the 
electronic health record. 
(iv) A review of any delayed or unresolved con-
sultations. 
(2) An identification of such recommendations for corrective 
action as the Secretary considers necessary, including addi-
tional training, increased personnel, and other resources. 
(3) A certification that the director of each medical center 
of the Department covered by the audit is in compliance with 
the process and requirements established under section 3101(a) 
and such other requirements relating to the scheduling of 
appointments and management of consultations as the Sec-
retary considers appropriate. 
(4) With respect to referrals for health care between health 
care providers or facilities of the Department, a measurement 
of, for each medical facility of the Department covered by the 
audit— 
(A) the period of time between— 
(i) the date that a clinician of the Department 
determines that a veteran requires care from another 
health care provider or facility and the date that the 
referral for care is sent to the other health care pro-
vider or facility; 
(ii) the date that the referral for care is sent to 
the other health care provider or facility and the date 
that the other health care provider or facility accepts 
the referral; 
(iii) the date that the other health care provider 
or facility accepts the referral and the date that the 
appointment with the other health care provider or 
at the other facility is made; and 
(iv) the date that the appointment with the other 
health care provider or at the other facility is made 
and the date of the appointment with the other health 
care provider or at the other facility; and 
(B) any other period of time that the Secretary deter-
mines necessary to measure.
H. R. 7105—72 
(5) With respect to referrals for non-Department health 
care originating from medical facilities of the Department, a 
measurement of, for each such facility covered by the audit— 
(A) the period of time between— 
(i) the date that a clinician of the Department 
determines that a veteran requires care, or a veteran 
presents to the Department requesting care, and the 
date that the referral for care is sent to a non-Depart-
ment health care provider; 
(ii) the date that the referral for care is sent to 
a non-Department health care provider and the date 
that a non-Department health care provider accepts 
the referral; 
(iii) the date that a non-Department health care 
provider accepts the referral and the date that the 
referral to a non-Department health care provider is 
completed; 
(iv) the date that the referral to a non-Department 
health care provider is completed and the date that 
an appointment with a non-Department health care 
provider is made; and 
(v) the date that an appointment with a non- 
Department health care provider is made and the date 
that an appointment with a non-Department health 
care provider occurs; and 
(B) any other period of time that the Secretary deter-
mines necessary to measure. 
(d) CONDUCT OF AUDIT BY THIRD PARTY.—Each audit conducted 
under subsection (a) with respect to a medical facility of the Depart-
ment shall be conducted by an individual or entity that is not 
affiliated with the facility. 
(e) TRANSMITTAL TO VHA.—Each audit conducted under sub-
section (a) shall be transmitted to the Under Secretary for Health 
of the Department so that the Under Secretary can— 
(1) strengthen oversight of the scheduling of appointments 
and management of consultations throughout the Department; 
(2) monitor national policy on such scheduling and manage-
ment; and 
(3) develop a remediation plan to address issues uncovered 
by those audits. 
(f) ANNUAL REPORT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than December 31 of each year 
in which an audit is conducted under subsection (a), the Sec-
retary shall submit to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of 
the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the 
House of Representatives a report on the audit conducted 
during that year. 
(2) ELEMENTS.—The Secretary shall include in each report 
required by paragraph (1)— 
(A) the nationwide results of the audit conducted under 
subsection (a); 
(B) the results of such audit with respect to each 
medical facility of the Department covered by such audit; 
(C) an assessment of how the Department strengthened 
oversight of the scheduling of appointments and manage-
ment of consultations at each such facility as a result 
of the audit;
H. R. 7105—75 
(1) a review of the onboarding process of individuals in 
health care positions described in subsection (a), including how 
long it takes to hire those individuals; and 
(2) a description of any changes that the Secretary has 
made or plans to make to improve that process. 
(c) APPROPRIATE COMMITTEES OF CONGRESS DEFINED.—In this 
section, the term ‘‘appropriate committees of Congress’’ means— 
(1) the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs and the Committee 
on Appropriations of the Senate; and 
(2) the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs and the Committee 
on Appropriations of the House of Representatives. 
TITLE IV—NAVY SEAL BILL MULDER 
SEC. 4001. SHORT TITLE. 
This title may be cited as the ‘‘Navy SEAL Bill Mulder Act 
of 2020’’. 
Subtitle A—Service-connection and 
COVID–19 
SEC. 4101. PRESUMPTIONS OF SERVICE-CONNECTION FOR MEMBERS 
OF ARMED FORCES WHO CONTRACT CORONAVIRUS DIS-
EASE 2019 UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter VI of chapter 11 of title 38, 
United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following 
new section: 
‘‘§ 1164. Presumptions of service-connection for Coronavirus 
Disease 2019 
‘‘(a) PRESUMPTIONS GENERALLY.—(1) For purposes of laws 
administered by the Secretary and subject to section 1113 of this 
title, if symptoms of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (in this section 
referred to as ‘COVID–19’) described in subsection (d) manifest 
within one of the manifestation periods described in paragraph 
(2) in an individual who served in a qualifying period of duty 
described in subsection (b)— 
‘‘(A) infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome 
coronavirus 2 (in this section referred to as ‘SARS–CoV–2’) 
shall be presumed to have occurred during the qualifying period 
of duty; 
‘‘(B) COVID–19 shall be presumed to have been incurred 
during the qualifying period of duty; and 
‘‘(C) if the individual becomes disabled or dies as a result 
of COVID–19, it shall be presumed that the individual became 
disabled or died during the qualifying period of duty for pur-
poses of establishing that the individual served in the active 
military, naval, or air service. 
‘‘(2)(A) The manifestation periods described in this paragraph 
are the following: 
‘‘(i) During a qualifying period of duty described in sub-
section (b), if that period of duty was more than 48 continuous 
hours in duration. 
‘‘(ii) Within 14 days after the individual’s completion of 
a qualifying period of duty described in subsection (b).
H. R. 7105—76 
‘‘(iii) An additional period prescribed under subparagraph 
(B). 
‘‘(B)(i) If the Secretary determines that a manifestation period 
of more than 14 days after completion of a qualifying period of 
service is appropriate for the presumptions under paragraph (1), 
the Secretary may prescribe that additional period by regulation. 
‘‘(ii) A determination under clause (i) shall be made in consulta-
tion with the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention. 
‘‘(b) QUALIFYING PERIOD OF DUTY DESCRIBED.—A qualifying 
period of duty described in this subsection is— 
‘‘(1) a period of active duty performed— 
‘‘(A) during the national emergency declared by the 
President under the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 
1601 et seq.); and 
‘‘(B) before the date that is three years after the date 
of the enactment of the Johnny Isakson and David P. 
Roe, M.D. Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement 
Act of 2020; or 
‘‘(2) training duty under title 10 or full-time National Guard 
duty (as defined in section 101 of title 10), performed under 
orders issued on or after March 13, 2020— 
‘‘(A) during the national emergency declared by the 
President under the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 
1601 et seq.); and 
‘‘(B) before the date that is three years after the date 
of the enactment of the Johnny Isakson and David P. 
Roe, M.D. Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement 
Act of 2020. 
‘‘(c) APPLICATION
OF PRESUMPTIONS
FOR TRAINING DUTY.— 
When, pursuant to subsection (a), COVID–19 is presumed to have 
been incurred during a qualifying period of duty described in sub-
section (b)(2)— 
‘‘(1) COVID–19 shall be deemed to have been incurred 
in the line of duty during a period of active military, naval, 
or air service; and 
‘‘(2) where entitlement to benefits under this title is predi-
cated on the individual who was disabled or died being a 
veteran, benefits for disability or death resulting from COVID– 
19 as described in subsection (a) shall be paid or furnished 
as if the individual was a veteran, without regard to whether 
the period of duty would constitute active military, naval, or 
air service under section 101 of this title. 
‘‘(d) SYMPTOMS OF COVID–19.—For purposes of subsection (a), 
symptoms of COVID–19 are those symptoms that competent medical 
evidence demonstrates are experienced by an individual affected 
and directly related to COVID–19. 
‘‘(e) MEDICAL EXAMINATIONS AND OPINIONS.—If there is a ques-
tion of whether the symptoms experienced by an individual 
described in paragraph (1) of subsection (a) during a manifestation 
period described in paragraph (2) of such subsection are attributable 
to COVID–19 resulting from infection with SARS–CoV–2 during 
the qualifying period of duty, in determining whether a medical 
examination or medical opinion is necessary to make a decision 
on the claim within the meaning of section 5103A(d) of this title, 
a qualifying period of duty described in subsection (b) of this section
H. R. 7105—77 
shall be treated as if it were active military, naval, or air service 
for purposes of section 5103A(d)(2)(B) of this title.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections at the begin-
ning of such subchapter is amended by adding at the end the 
following new item: 
‘‘1164. Presumptions of service-connection for Coronavirus Disease 2019.’’. 
Subtitle B—Assistance for Homeless 
Veterans 
SEC. 4201. FLEXIBILITY FOR THE SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS 
IN CARING FOR HOMELESS VETERANS DURING A COV-
ERED PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY. 
(a) GENERAL SUPPORT.— 
(1) USE OF FUNDS.—During a covered public health emer-
gency, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs may use amounts 
appropriated or otherwise made available to the Department 
of Veterans Affairs to carry out sections 2011, 2012, 2031, 
and 2061 of title 38, United States Code, to provide to homeless 
veterans and veterans participating in the program carried 
out under section 8(o)(19) of the United States Housing Act 
of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437f(o)(19)) (commonly referred to as ‘‘HUD- 
VASH’’), as the Secretary determines is needed, the following: 
(A) Assistance required for safety and survival (such 
as food, shelter, clothing, blankets, and hygiene items). 
(B) Transportation required to support stability and 
health (such as for appointments with service providers, 
conducting housing searches, and obtaining food and sup-
plies). 
(C) Communications equipment and services (such as 
tablets, smartphones, disposable phones, and related 
service plans) required to support stability and health (such 
as maintaining contact with service providers, prospective 
landlords, and family). 
(D) Such other assistance as the Secretary determines 
is needed. 
(2) HOMELESS VETERANS ON LAND OF THE DEPARTMENT.— 
(A) COLLABORATION.—During a covered public health 
emergency, to the extent possible, the Secretary may 
collaborate with one or more organizations to manage use 
of land of the Department for homeless veterans for living 
and sleeping. 
(B) ELEMENTS.—Collaboration under subparagraph (A) 
may include the provision by either the Secretary or the 
organization of food services and security for property, 
buildings, and other facilities owned or controlled by the 
Department. 
(b) GRANT AND PER DIEM PROGRAM.— 
(1) LIMITS ON RATES FOR PER DIEM PAYMENTS.—Section 
20013(b) of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security 
Act (38 U.S.C. 2011 note; Public Law 116–136) is amended— 
(A) by redesignating paragraphs (1) and (2) as subpara-
graphs (A) and (B), respectively; 
(B) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), as so 
redesignated, by inserting ‘‘(1)’’ before ‘‘In the case’’; and
H. R. 7105—78 
(C) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(2) If the Secretary waives any limit on grant amounts or 
rates for per diem payments under paragraph (1), notwithstanding 
section 2012(a)(2)(B) of such title, the maximum rate for per diem 
payments described in paragraph (1)(B) shall be three times the 
rate authorized for State homes for domiciliary care under section 
1741 of such title.’’. 
(2) MODIFICATION OF FUNDING LIMITS FOR GRANTS.—Sub-
section (c)(2) of section 2011 of title 38, United States Code, 
shall not apply to any grant awarded during a covered public 
health emergency under such section for a project described 
in subsection (b)(1) of such section. 
(3) USE OF PER DIEM PAYMENTS.—During a covered public 
health emergency, a recipient of a grant or an eligible entity 
under the grant and per diem program of the Department 
(in this subsection referred to as the ‘‘program’’) may use per 
diem payments under sections 2012 and 2061 of title 38, United 
States Code, to provide assistance required for safety and sur-
vival (such as food, shelter, clothing, blankets, and hygiene 
items) for— 
(A) homeless veterans; and 
(B) formerly homeless veterans residing in a facility 
operated wholly or in part by such a recipient or eligible 
entity receiving per diem payments under section 2012 
of such title. 
(4) ADDITIONAL TRANSITIONAL HOUSING.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—During a covered public health emer-
gency, under the program, the Secretary may provide 
amounts for additional transitional housing beds to facili-
tate access to housing and services provided to homeless 
veterans. 
(B) NOTICE; COMPETITION; PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE.— 
The Secretary may provide amounts under subparagraph 
(A)— 
(i) without notice or competition; and 
(ii) for a period of performance determined by the 
Secretary. 
(5) INSPECTIONS AND LIFE SAFETY CODE REQUIREMENTS.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—During a covered public health emer-
gency, the Secretary may waive any requirement under 
subsection (b) or (c) of section 2012 of title 38, United 
States Code, in order to allow the recipient of a grant 
or an eligible entity under the program— 
(i) to quickly identify temporary alternate sites 
of care for homeless veterans that are suitable for 
habitation; 
(ii) to facilitate social distancing or isolation needs; 
or 
(iii) to facilitate activation or continuation of a 
program for which a grant has been awarded. 
(B) LIMITATION.—The Secretary may waive a require-
ment pursuant to the authority provided by subparagraph 
(A) with respect to a facility of a recipient of a grant 
or an eligible entity under the program only if the facility 
meets applicable local safety requirements, including fire 
safety requirements.