Enhancing Veteran Care Act

Bill: 115-s-1266
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Inhofe, James M. [R-OK]
Introduced: 2017-05-25
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Department of Veterans Affairs

Government studies and investigations

Health care quality

Health facilities and institutions

Public contracts and procurement

Veterans' medical care
Latest action: action_date: 2017-12-20
text: Signed by President.

Summaries:
action_date: 2017-05-25
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><strong>Enhancing Veteran Care Act</strong></p> <p>This bill authorizes the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to contract with a nonprofit organization that accredits health care organizations and programs in the United States to investigate a VA medical center to assess and report deficiencies of the center's facilities.</p> <p>The VA shall delegate such authority to the Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) in which the medical center is located or to the director of such medical center. </p> <ul></ul>

action_date: 2017-11-09
action_desc: Passed Senate without amendment
text: <p>(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)</p> <p><strong>Enhancing Veteran Care Act</strong></p> <p> (Sec. 2) This bill authorizes the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to contract with a nonprofit organization that accredits health care organizations and programs in the United States to investigate a VA medical center to assess and report deficiencies of the center's facilities.</p> <p>The VA shall delegate such authority to the Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) in which the medical center is located or to the director of such medical center. </p> <p> Before entering into a contract, a VISN director or a medical center director shall notify the VA, the VA Inspector General, and the Government Accountability Office in order to coordinate an investigation conducted pursuant to such contract with any other ongoing investigations. </p> <ul></ul>

action_date: 2017-12-20
action_desc: Public Law
text: <p><strong>Enhancing Veteran Care Act</strong></p> <p> (Sec. 2) This bill authorizes the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to contract with a nonprofit organization that accredits health care organizations and programs in the United States to investigate a VA medical center to assess and report deficiencies of the center's facilities.</p> <p>The VA shall delegate such authority to the Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) in which the medical center is located or to the director of such medical center. </p> <p> Before entering into a contract, a VISN director or a medical center director shall notify the VA, the VA Inspector General, and the Government Accountability Office in order to coordinate an investigation conducted pursuant to such contract with any other ongoing investigations. </p> <ul></ul>

tv_txt: II 115th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 1266 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 25, 2017 Mr. Inhofe (for himself and Mr. Lankford ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs A BILL To authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to enter into contracts with nonprofit organizations to investigate medical centers of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Enhancing Veteran Care Act . 2. Investigation of medical centers of the Department of Veterans Affairs (a) In general The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may contract with a nonprofit organization that accredits health care organizations and programs in the United States to investigate a medical center of the Department of Veterans Affairs to assess and report deficiencies of the facilities at such medical center. (b) Authority of directors (1) In general Subject to coordination under paragraph (2), the Secretary shall delegate the authority under subsection (a) to contract for an investigation at a medical center of the Department to the Director of the Veterans Integrated Service Network in which the medical center is located or the director of such medical center. (2) Coordination Before entering into a contract under paragraph (1), the Director of a Veterans Integrated Service Network or the director of a medical center, as the case may be, shall notify the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, the Inspector General of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and the Comptroller General of the United States for purposes of coordinating any investigation conducted pursuant to such contract with any other investigations that may be ongoing. (c) Rule of construction Nothing in this section may be construed— (1) to prevent the Office of the Inspector General of the Department of Veterans Affairs from conducting any review, audit, evaluation, or inspection regarding a topic for which an investigation is conducted under this section; or (2) to modify the requirement that employees of the Department assist with any review, audit, evaluation, or inspection conducted by the Office of the Inspector General of the Department.

tv_txt: 115th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 1266 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES AN ACT To authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to enter into contracts with nonprofit organizations to investigate medical centers of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Enhancing Veteran Care Act . 2. Investigation of medical centers of the Department of Veterans Affairs (a) In general The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may contract with a nonprofit organization that accredits health care organizations and programs in the United States to investigate a medical center of the Department of Veterans Affairs to assess and report deficiencies of the facilities at such medical center. (b) Authority of directors (1) In general Subject to coordination under paragraph (2), the Secretary shall delegate the authority under subsection (a) to contract for an investigation at a medical center of the Department to the Director of the Veterans Integrated Service Network in which the medical center is located or the director of such medical center. (2) Coordination Before entering into a contract under paragraph (1), the Director of a Veterans Integrated Service Network or the director of a medical center, as the case may be, shall notify the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, the Inspector General of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and the Comptroller General of the United States for purposes of coordinating any investigation conducted pursuant to such contract with any other investigations that may be ongoing. (c) Rule of construction Nothing in this section may be construed— (1) to prevent the Office of the Inspector General of the Department of Veterans Affairs from conducting any review, audit, evaluation, or inspection regarding a topic for which an investigation is conducted under this section; or (2) to modify the requirement that employees of the Department assist with any review, audit, evaluation, or inspection conducted by the Office of the Inspector General of the Department.

Passed the Senate November 9, 2017. Secretary

tv_txt: IC 115th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 1266 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES November 13, 2017 Referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs AN ACT To authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to enter into contracts with nonprofit organizations to investigate medical centers of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Enhancing Veteran Care Act . 2. Investigation of medical centers of the Department of Veterans Affairs (a) In general The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may contract with a nonprofit organization that accredits health care organizations and programs in the United States to investigate a medical center of the Department of Veterans Affairs to assess and report deficiencies of the facilities at such medical center. (b) Authority of directors (1) In general Subject to coordination under paragraph (2), the Secretary shall delegate the authority under subsection (a) to contract for an investigation at a medical center of the Department to the Director of the Veterans Integrated Service Network in which the medical center is located or the director of such medical center. (2) Coordination Before entering into a contract under paragraph (1), the Director of a Veterans Integrated Service Network or the director of a medical center, as the case may be, shall notify the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, the Inspector General of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and the Comptroller General of the United States for purposes of coordinating any investigation conducted pursuant to such contract with any other investigations that may be ongoing. (c) Rule of construction Nothing in this section may be construed— (1) to prevent the Office of the Inspector General of the Department of Veterans Affairs from conducting any review, audit, evaluation, or inspection regarding a topic for which an investigation is conducted under this section; or (2) to modify the requirement that employees of the Department assist with any review, audit, evaluation, or inspection conducted by the Office of the Inspector General of the Department.

Passed the Senate November 9, 2017. Julie E. Adams, Secretary

tv_txt: One Hundred Fifteenth Congress of the United States of America 1st Session Begun and held at the City of Washington on Tuesday, the third day of January, two thousand and seventeen S. 1266 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES AN ACT To authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to enter into contracts with nonprofit organizations to investigate medical centers of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Enhancing Veteran Care Act . 2. Investigation of medical centers of the Department of Veterans Affairs (a) In general The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may contract with a nonprofit organization that accredits health care organizations and programs in the United States to investigate a medical center of the Department of Veterans Affairs to assess and report deficiencies of the facilities at such medical center. (b) Authority of directors (1) In general Subject to coordination under paragraph (2), the Secretary shall delegate the authority under subsection (a) to contract for an investigation at a medical center of the Department to the Director of the Veterans Integrated Service Network in which the medical center is located or the director of such medical center. (2) Coordination Before entering into a contract under paragraph (1), the Director of a Veterans Integrated Service Network or the director of a medical center, as the case may be, shall notify the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, the Inspector General of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and the Comptroller General of the United States for purposes of coordinating any investigation conducted pursuant to such contract with any other investigations that may be ongoing. (c) Rule of construction Nothing in this section may be construed— (1) to prevent the Office of the Inspector General of the Department of Veterans Affairs from conducting any review, audit, evaluation, or inspection regarding a topic for which an investigation is conducted under this section; or (2) to modify the requirement that employees of the Department assist with any review, audit, evaluation, or inspection conducted by the Office of the Inspector General of the Department.

Speaker of the House of Representatives Vice President of the United States and President of the Senate