(7) The allowance, where technically appro-
priate, for veterans to receive modifications at their 
residence or location of choice. 
(c) UPDATES.—Not later than one year after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall update Vet-
erans Health Administration Handbook 1173.4, or any suc-
cessor handbook or directive, in accordance with the policy 
developed under subsection (a). Not less frequently than 
once every six years thereafter, the Secretary shall update 
such handbook, or any successor handbook or directive. 
(d) CONSULTATION.—The Secretary shall develop the 
policy under subsection (a), and revise such policy under 
subsection (c), in consultation with veterans service organi-
zations, the National Highway Transportation Administra-
tion, industry representatives, manufacturers of automobile 
adaptive equipment, and other entities with expertise in in-
stalling, repairing, replacing, or manufacturing mobility 
equipment or developing mobility accreditation standards 
for automobile adaptive equipment. 
(e) CONFLICTS.—In developing and implementing the 
policy under subsection (a), the Secretary shall— 
(1) minimize the possibility of conflicts of inter-
est, to the extent practicable; and 
(2) establish procedures that ensure against the 
use of a certifying entity referred to in subsection 
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(b)(4) that has a financial conflict of interest regard-
ing the certification of an eligible provider. 
(f) BIENNIAL REPORT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than one year after 
the date on which the Secretary updates Veterans 
Health Administration Handbook 1173.4, or any suc-
cessor handbook or directive, under subsection (c), and 
biennially thereafter through 2022, the Secretary shall 
submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the 
House of Representatives and the Senate a report on 
the implementation and facility compliance with the 
policy developed under subsection (a). 
(2) CONTENTS.—The report required by para-
graph (1) shall include the following: 
(A) A description of the implementation 
plan for the policy developed under subsection 
(a) and any revisions to such policy under sub-
section (c). 
(B) A description of the performance meas-
ures used to determine the effectiveness of such 
policy in ensuring the safety of veterans enrolled 
in the automobile adaptive equipment program. 
(C) An assessment of safety issues due to 
improper installations based on a survey of re-
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cipients of adaptive equipment from the Depart-
ment. 
(D) An assessment of the adequacy of the 
adaptive equipment services of the Department 
based on a survey of recipients of adaptive 
equipment from the Department. 
(E) An assessment of the training provided 
to the personnel of the Department with respect 
to administering the program. 
(F) An assessment of the certified providers 
of the Department of adaptive equipment with 
respect to meeting the minimum standards devel-
oped under subsection (b)(2). 
(g) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) The term ‘‘automobile adaptive equipment 
program’’ means the program administered by the 
Secretary of Veterans Affairs pursuant to chapter 39 
of title 38, United States Code. 
(2) The term ‘‘veterans service organization’’ 
means any organization recognized by the Secretary 
for the representation of veterans under section 5902 
of title 38, United States Code. 
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SEC. 4. APPOINTMENT OF LICENSED HEARING AID SPE-
CIALISTS IN VETERANS HEALTH ADMINIS-
TRATION. 
(a) LICENSED HEARING AID SPECIALISTS.— 
(1) APPOINTMENT.—Section 7401(3) of title 38, 
United States Code, is amended by inserting ‘‘licensed 
hearing aid specialists,’’ after ‘‘Audiologists,’’. 
(2) QUALIFICATIONS.—Section 7402(b)(14) of 
such title is amended by inserting ‘‘, hearing aid spe-
cialist’’ after ‘‘dental technologist’’. 
(b) REQUIREMENTS.—With respect to appointing 
hearing aid specialists under sections 7401 and 7402 of title 
38, United States Code, as amended by subsection (a), and 
providing services furnished by such specialists, the Sec-
retary shall ensure that— 
(1) a hearing aid specialist may only perform 
hearing services consistent with the hearing aid spe-
cialist’s State license related to the practice of fitting 
and dispensing hearing aids without excluding other 
qualified professionals, including audiologists, from 
rendering services in overlapping practice areas; 
(2) services provided to veterans by hearing aid 
specialists shall be provided as part of the non-med-
ical treatment plan developed by an audiologist; and 
(3) the medical facilities of the Department of 
Veterans Affairs provide to veterans access to the full 
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range of professional services provided by an audiol-
ogist. 
(c) CONSULTATION.—In determining the qualifications 
required for hearing aid specialists and in carrying out 
subsection (b), the Secretary shall consult with veterans 
service organizations, audiologists, otolaryngologists, hear-
ing aid specialists, and other stakeholder and industry 
groups as the Secretary determines appropriate. 
(d) ANNUAL REPORT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than one year after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually 
thereafter during the five-year period beginning on 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs shall submit to Congress a report on 
the following: 
(A) Timely access of veterans to hearing 
health services through the Department of Vet-
erans Affairs. 
(B) Contracting policies of the Department 
with respect to providing hearing health services 
to veterans in facilities that are not facilities of 
the Department. 
(2) TIMELY ACCESS TO SERVICES.—Each report 
shall, with respect to the matter specified in para-
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graph (1)(A) for the one-year period preceding the 
submittal of such report, include the following: 
(A) The staffing levels of audiologists, hear-
ing aid specialists, and health technicians in 
audiology in the Veterans Health Administra-
tion. 
(B) A description of the metrics used by the 
Secretary in measuring performance with respect 
to appointments and care relating to hearing 
health. 
(C) The average time that a veteran waits 
to receive an appointment, beginning on the date 
on which the veteran makes the request, for the 
following: 
(i) A disability rating evaluation for a 
hearing-related disability. 
(ii) A hearing aid evaluation. 
(iii) Dispensing of hearing aids. 
(iv) Any follow-up hearing health ap-
pointment. 
(D) The percentage of veterans whose total 
wait time for appointments described in sub-
paragraph (C), including an initial and follow- 
up appointment, if applicable, is more than 30 
days. 
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(3) CONTRACTING POLICIES.—Each report shall, 
with respect to the matter specified in paragraph 
(1)(B) for the one-year period preceding the submittal 
of such report, include the following: 
(A) The number of veterans that the Sec-
retary refers to non-Department audiologists for 
hearing health care appointments. 
(B) The number of veterans that the Sec-
retary refers to non-Department hearing aid spe-
cialists for follow-up appointments for a hearing 
aid evaluation, the dispensing of hearing aids, or 
any other purpose relating to hearing health. 
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Union Calendar No. 548 
114TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 3471 
[Report No. 114–709] 
A BILL 
To amend title 38, United States Code, to make 
certain improvements in the provision of auto-
mobiles and adaptive equipment by the Depart-
ment of Veterans Affairs. 
SEPTEMBER 6, 2016 
Reported with an amendment, committed to the Com-
mittee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, 
and ordered to be printed 
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