Improving Quality of Care Within the Department of Veterans Affairs Act of 2013

Bill: 113-s-1589
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Burr, Richard [R-NC]
Introduced: 2013-10-28
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Congressional oversight

Department of Veterans Affairs

Health care quality

Health facilities and institutions

Health information and medical records

Health personnel

Health programs administration and funding

Infectious and parasitic diseases

Performance measurement

Veterans' medical care
Latest action: action_date: 2013-10-30
text: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 113-280.

Summaries:
action_date: 2013-10-28
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p>Improving Quality of Care Within the Department of Veterans Affairs Act of 2013 - Requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to: (1) ensure that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has in effect an up-to-date policy on reporting a notifiable infectious disease diagnosed at a VA facility in accordance with applicable state and local law, and (2) develop performance measures to assess whether and to what degree the directors of Veterans Integrated Service Networks (VISN) and VA medical centers are complying with such policy.</p> <p>Requires the Secretary to enter into a contract with an independent third-party to: (1) assess the organizational structures of VA medical centers, and (2) improve succession planning among key leadership roles at VISN and VA medical centers. </p> <UL><UL> </UL> </UL> <BR> </p>

tv_txt: II 113th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 1589 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES October 28, 2013 Mr. Burr introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs A BILL To amend title 38, United States Code, to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to ensure the Department of Veterans Affairs has an up-to-date policy on reporting of cases of infectious diseases, to require an independent assessment of the Veterans Integrated Service Networks and medical centers of the Department, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Improving Quality of Care Within the Department of Veterans Affairs Act of 2013 . 2. Requirement for Department of Veterans Affairs policy on reporting cases of infectious diseases at facilities of the Department (a) In general Subchapter II of chapter 73 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section: 7330B. Reporting of infectious diseases (a) Reporting The Secretary shall ensure that the Department has in effect an up-to-date policy on reporting a notifiable infectious disease diagnosed at a facility under the jurisdiction of the Secretary in accordance with the provisions of State and local law in effect where such facility is located. (b) Notifiable infectious disease For purposes of this section, a notifiable infectious disease is any infectious disease that is— (1) on the list of nationally notifiable diseases published by the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; or (2) covered by a provision of law of a State that requires the reporting of infectious diseases. (c) Performance measures The Secretary shall develop performance measures to assess whether and to what degree the directors of Veterans Integrated Service Networks and Department medical centers are complying with the policy required by subsection (a). . (b) Clerical amendment The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 73 of such title is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 7330A the following new item: 7330B. Reporting of infectious diseases. . 3. Independent assessment of the Veterans Integrated Service Networks and medical centers of Department of Veterans Affairs (a) Contract (1) In general The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall seek to enter into a contract with an independent third-party to perform the services covered by this section. (2) Timing The Secretary shall seek to enter into the contract described in paragraph (1) not later than 270 days after the date of the enactment of this Act. (b) Independent study (1) In general Under a contract between the Secretary and an independent third-party under this section, the third party shall carry out a study— (A) to assess the organizational structures of medical centers of the Department of Veterans Affairs; and (B) to improve succession planning among key leadership roles at Veterans Integrated Service Networks and medical centers of the Department. (2) Matters studied and proposed In carrying out the study, the third party shall— (A) assess whether organizational structure of the medical centers of the Department is effective for the furnishing of medical services, addressing issues that arise regarding the furnishing of medical services, and addressing standard business operations; (B) propose one organizational chart for Department medical centers with a common set of base position descriptions; (C) propose a base set of medical positions that should be filled to ensure that the health care provided to veterans by the Department is of good quality; and (D) identify which key leadership positions at Veterans Integrated Service Networks and Department medical centers should have succession plans and propose how to implement such plans. (c) Report Not later than 90 days after the date on which the third party completes the study under this section, the Secretary 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 results of such study.