Maximizing Efficiency and Improving Access to Providers at the Department of Veterans Affairs Act

Bill: 115-s-113
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Heller, Dean [R-NV]
Introduced: 2017-01-12
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Department of Veterans Affairs

Health care coverage and access

Health care quality

Health information and medical records

Health personnel

Rural conditions and development

Veterans' medical care
Latest action: action_date: 2017-01-12
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

Summaries:
action_date: 2017-01-12
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><strong>Maximizing Efficiency and Improving Access to Providers at the Department of Veterans Affairs Act</strong></p> <p>This bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to carry out an 18-month pilot program to increase the use of medical scribes to maximize the efficiency of physicians at VA medical facilities. A "medical scribe" is defined as a member of the medical team hired and trained to perform documentation in an electronic health record to maximize the productivity of a physician.</p> <p>The program shall be conducted at not fewer than five medical facilities that: (1) have a high volume of patients; or (2) are in rural areas where there is a shortage of physicians and where each physician has a high caseload.</p> <p>To carry out such program, the VA shall enter into a contract with one or more nongovernmental entities that train and employ professional medical scribes who specialize in the collection of medical data and data entry into electronic health records. </p> <p>The VA shall collect data to determine the effectiveness of the program, including information on changes in the average wait times for veterans to receive care, the average number of patients that a physician is able to see, the average amount of time such a physician spends on documentation, physician satisfaction and retention scores, and patient satisfaction scores.</p>

tv_txt: II 115th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 113 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES January 12, 2017 Mr. Heller (for himself and Mr. Tester ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs A BILL To require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot program to increase the use of medical scribes to maximize the efficiency of physicians at medical facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Maximizing Efficiency and Improving Access to Providers at the Department of Veterans Affairs Act . 2. Pilot program on increasing the use of medical scribes to maximize the efficiency of physicians at medical facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs (a) In general Commencing not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of the Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall carry out a pilot program to increase the use of medical scribes to maximize the efficiency of physicians at medical facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs. (b) Duration The Secretary shall carry out the pilot program during the 18-month period beginning on the date of the commencement of the pilot program. (c) Locations The Secretary shall carry out the pilot program at not fewer than five medical facilities of the Department— (1) at which the Secretary has determined there is a high volume of patients; or (2) that are located in rural areas and at which the Secretary has determined there is a shortage of physicians and each physician has a high caseload. (d) Contracts (1) In general In carrying out the pilot program, the Secretary shall enter into a contract with one or more appropriate nongovernmental entities described in paragraph (2). (2) Appropriate nongovernmental entities described An appropriate nongovernmental entity described in this paragraph is an entity that trains and employs professional medical scribes who specialize in the collection of medical data and data entry into electronic health records. (e) Collection of data (1) In general The Secretary shall collect data on the pilot program to determine the effectiveness of the pilot program in increasing the efficiency of physicians at medical facilities of the Department. (2) Elements The data collected under paragraph (1) shall include the following with respect to each medical facility participating in the pilot program: (A) The average wait time for a veteran to receive care from a physician at such medical facility before implementation of the pilot program. (B) The average wait time for a veteran to receive care from such a physician after implementation of the pilot program. (C) The average number of patients that such a physician is able to see on a daily basis before implementation of the pilot program. (D) The average number of patients that such a physician is able to see on a daily basis after implementation of the pilot program. (E) The average amount of time such a physician spends on documentation on a daily basis before implementation of the pilot program. (F) The average amount of time such a physician spends on documentation on a daily basis after implementation of the pilot program. (G) The satisfaction and retention scores of each such physician before implementation of the pilot program. (H) The satisfaction and retention scores of each such physician after implementation of the pilot program. (I) The patient satisfaction scores for each such physician before implementation of the pilot program. (J) The patient satisfaction scores for each such physician after implementation of the pilot program. (K) The patient satisfaction scores for their health care experience before implementation of the pilot program. (L) The patient satisfaction scores for their health care experience after implementation of the pilot program. (f) Report (1) In general Not later than 180 days after the commencement of the pilot program, and not less frequently than once every 180 days thereafter for the duration of the pilot program, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the pilot program. (2) Elements Each report required by paragraph (1) shall include the following: (A) The number of medical facilities of the Department that are participating in the pilot program. (B) With respect to each such medical facility, an assessment of the effects that participation in the pilot program has had on the following: (i) Maximizing the efficiency of physicians at such medical facility. (ii) Reducing average wait times for appointments. (iii) Improving access of patients to electronic medical records. (iv) Mitigating physician shortages by increasing the productivity of physicians. (C) All data collected under subsection (e). (D) Such recommendations as the Secretary may have with respect to the extension or expansion of the pilot program. (g) Medical scribe defined In this section, the term medical scribe means a member of the medical team hired and trained specifically and exclusively to perform documentation in an electronic health record to maximize the productivity of a physician.