Survey Our Ser­vice­mem­bers Act
Bill: H.R.4486 | Sponsor: Rep. Rice, Tom (R-SC)
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security

Summary:
Survey Our Servicemembers Act or the SOS Act
This bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to contract with an experienced nongovernment entity to conduct an annual survey to determine the experiences of veterans in obtaining hospital care and medical services at each VA medical facility. Such surveys must be conducted over a five-year period and must include questions related to the experiences of veterans in seeking care at both VA and non-VA facilities.
The VA shall make the survey results publicly available on its website.

To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct annual surveys 
of veterans on experiences with medical facilities of the Department of 
               Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Survey Our Servicemembers Act'' or 
the ``SOS Act''.

SEC. 2. SURVEY OF VETERAN 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, with respect to veterans who have received hospital care or medical 
services at non-Department facilities--
            (1) the factors considered by the veteran with respect to 
        choosing whether to receive hospital care or medical services 
        at a facility of the Department or at a non-Department 
        facility;
            (2) the quality of hospital care or medical services the 
        veteran has received at non-Department facilities; and
            (3) the differences in the cost to the veteran of receiving 
        hospital care or medical services at non-Department facilities 
        and hospital care or medical services at medical facilities of 
        the Department.
    (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 of title 44, 
United States Code shall not apply to this section.
    (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.
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