Improving Oversight of Women Veterans' Care Act of 2018

Bill: 115-hr-4334
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Correa, J. Luis [D-CA-46]
Introduced: 2017-11-09
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Cancer

Congressional oversight

Department of Veterans Affairs

Government information and archives

Health care quality

Health facilities and institutions

Health information and medical records

Hospital care

Medical tests and diagnostic methods

Performance measurement

Veterans' medical care

Women's health
Latest action: action_date: 2018-05-22
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

Summaries:
action_date: 2017-11-09
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><b>Improving Oversight of Women Veterans' Care Act of 2017</b></p> <p>This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to report to Congress annually on the access of women veterans to gender-specific medical care (mammograms, maternity care, and gynecological care) provided by contracting non-VA medical providers. Each VA medical facility must report quarterly to the VA on the facility's compliance with the environment of care standards for women veterans, which are standards intended to protect the privacy, safety, and dignity of women veterans when they receive medical care. The VA must report to Congress with a plan to strengthen such standards.</p>

action_date: 2018-05-18
action_desc: Reported to House without amendment
text: <p><b>Improving Oversight of Women Veterans' Care Act of 2017</b></p> <p>This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to report to Congress annually on the access of women veterans to gender-specific medical care (mammograms, maternity care, and gynecological care) provided by contracting non-VA medical providers. Each VA medical facility must report quarterly to the VA on the facility's compliance with the environment of care standards for women veterans, which are standards intended to protect the privacy, safety, and dignity of women veterans when they receive medical care. The VA must report to Congress with a plan to strengthen such standards.</p>

action_date: 2018-05-21
action_desc: Passed House amended
text: <p><b>Improving Oversight of Women Veterans' Care Act of 2018</b></p> <p> (Sec. 2) This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to report to Congress annually on the access of women veterans to gender-specific medical care (mammograms, maternity care, and gynecological care) provided by contracting non-VA medical providers. </p> <p> (Sec. 3) Each VA medical facility must report quarterly to the VA on the facility's compliance with the environment of care standards for women veterans, which are standards intended to protect the privacy, safety, and dignity of women veterans when they receive medical care. The VA must report to Congress with a plan to strengthen such standards.</p>

tv_txt: I 115th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 4334 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES November 9, 2017 Mr. Correa (for himself, Ms. Brownley of California , Mr. Ryan of Ohio , Ms. Moore , Mrs. Torres , Mrs. Davis of California , Ms. Blunt Rochester , Mr. Aguilar , Mr. McEachin , Mr. Gene Green of Texas , Ms. Lofgren , Mrs. Carolyn B. Maloney of New York , Mr. Brendan F. Boyle of Pennsylvania , Mr. Loebsack , Ms. Schakowsky , Mr. Gallego , Ms. Hanabusa , Mr. Peterson , Mr. O'Halleran , Mr. Gomez , Mr. Vargas , Mr. Walz , Ms. Titus , Mr. Ruiz , Mr. Espaillat , Mr. Carbajal , Mr. Carson of Indiana , Ms. McCollum , and Mr. Evans ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs A BILL To provide for certain reporting requirements relating to medical care for women veterans provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs and through contracts entered into by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs with non-Department medical providers, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Improving Oversight of Women Veterans’ Care Act of 2017 . 2. Annual report on veteran access to covered sex-specific services under community care contracts (a) Annual report The Under Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the House of Representatives an annual report on the access of women veterans to covered sex-specific medical care under contracts with non-Department medical providers entered into by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for the provision of hospital care or medical services to veterans eligible for enrollment in the patient enrollment system of the Department of Veterans Affairs maintained under section 1705 of title 38, United States Code. Such report shall include data and performance measures for the availability of covered sex-specific medical care, including— (1) the average wait time between the veteran’s preferred appointment date and the date on which the appointment is completed; (2) driving time required for veterans to attend appointments; and (3) reasons why appointments could not be scheduled with non-Department medical providers. (b) Covered sex-Specific medical care In this section, the term covered sex-specific medical care means mammography, maternity care, and gynecological care. 3. Reporting on Veterans Health Administration environment of care standards for women veterans (a) Medical facility reporting Each medical facility of the Department shall submit to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs a quarterly report on the compliance and noncompliance of the facility with the environment of care standards for women veterans. Each such report shall include the name of each person associated with such facility who is responsible for such compliance and the specific role or responsibility assigned to each such person. (b) Report to Congress Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the House of Representatives a report on the plan of the Secretary to strengthen the environment of care standards for women veterans at Department of Veterans Affairs medical facilities. Such report shall include— (1) a description of the process established to verify that noncompliance information reported under subsection (a) is accurate and complete; and (2) a description of the method by which the Secretary will— (A) ensure that all patient care areas of each Department medical facility are inspected as required; and (B) expand the list of items that facility staff inspect for compliance to align with the women’s health handbook of the Veterans Health Administration. (c) Environment of care standards for women veterans In this section, the term environment of care standards for women veterans has the meaning given that term in Veterans Health Administration Directive 1330.01(1).

tv_txt: I 115th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 4334 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AN ACT To provide for certain reporting requirements relating to medical care for women veterans provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs and through contracts entered into by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs with non-Department medical providers, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Improving Oversight of Women Veterans’ Care Act of 2018 . 2. Annual report on veteran access to covered sex-specific services under community care contracts (a) Annual report The Under Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the House of Representatives an annual report on the access of women veterans to covered sex-specific medical care under contracts with non-Department medical providers entered into by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for the provision of hospital care or medical services to veterans eligible for enrollment in the patient enrollment system of the Department of Veterans Affairs maintained under section 1705 of title 38, United States Code. Such report shall include data and performance measures for the availability of covered sex-specific medical care, including— (1) the average wait time between the veteran’s preferred appointment date and the date on which the appointment is completed; (2) driving time required for veterans to attend appointments; and (3) reasons why appointments could not be scheduled with non-Department medical providers. (b) Sunset The requirement to submit a report under this section shall terminate on the date that is 7 years after the date of the enactment of this Act. (c) Covered sex-Specific medical care In this section, the term covered sex-specific medical care means mammography, maternity care, and gynecological care. 3. Reporting on Veterans Health Administration environment of care standards for women veterans (a) Medical facility reporting Each medical facility of the Department shall submit to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs a quarterly report on the compliance and noncompliance of the facility with the environment of care standards for women veterans. Each such report shall include the name of each person associated with such facility who is responsible for such compliance and the specific role or responsibility assigned to each such person. (b) Report to Congress Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the House of Representatives a report on the plan of the Secretary to strengthen the environment of care standards for women veterans at Department of Veterans Affairs medical facilities. Such report shall include— (1) a description of the process established to verify that noncompliance information reported under subsection (a) is accurate and complete; and (2) a description of the method by which the Secretary will— (A) ensure that all patient care areas of each Department medical facility are inspected as required; and (B) expand the list of items that facility staff inspect for compliance to align with the women’s health handbook of the Veterans Health Administration. (c) Sunset The requirement to submit a report under this section shall terminate on the date that is 7 years after the date of the enactment of this Act. (d) Environment of care standards for women veterans In this section, the term environment of care standards for women veterans has the meaning given that term in Veterans Health Administration Directive 1330.01(1).

Passed the House of Representatives May 21, 2018. Karen L. Haas, Clerk.

tv_txt: IB Union Calendar No. 528 115th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 4334 [Report No. 115–685] IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES November 9, 2017 Mr. Correa (for himself, Ms. Brownley of California , Mr. Ryan of Ohio , Ms. Moore , Mrs. Torres , Mrs. Davis of California , Ms. Blunt Rochester , Mr. Aguilar , Mr. McEachin , Mr. Gene Green of Texas , Ms. Lofgren , Mrs. Carolyn B. Maloney of New York , Mr. Brendan F. Boyle of Pennsylvania , Mr. Loebsack , Ms. Schakowsky , Mr. Gallego , Ms. Hanabusa , Mr. Peterson , Mr. O'Halleran , Mr. Gomez , Mr. Vargas , Mr. Walz , Ms. Titus , Mr. Ruiz , Mr. Espaillat , Mr. Carbajal , Mr. Carson of Indiana , Ms. McCollum , and Mr. Evans ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs May 18, 2018 Additional sponsors: Mr. Cohen , Mr. Cárdenas , Mr. Coffman , Mr. Krishnamoorthi , Ms. Kuster of New Hampshire , Mr. Kilmer , and Mr. Thompson of California May 18, 2018 Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed A BILL To provide for certain reporting requirements relating to medical care for women veterans provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs and through contracts entered into by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs with non-Department medical providers, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Improving Oversight of Women Veterans’ Care Act of 2017 . 2. Annual report on veteran access to covered sex-specific services under community care contracts (a) Annual report The Under Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the House of Representatives an annual report on the access of women veterans to covered sex-specific medical care under contracts with non-Department medical providers entered into by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for the provision of hospital care or medical services to veterans eligible for enrollment in the patient enrollment system of the Department of Veterans Affairs maintained under section 1705 of title 38, United States Code. Such report shall include data and performance measures for the availability of covered sex-specific medical care, including— (1) the average wait time between the veteran’s preferred appointment date and the date on which the appointment is completed; (2) driving time required for veterans to attend appointments; and (3) reasons why appointments could not be scheduled with non-Department medical providers. (b) Covered sex-Specific medical care In this section, the term covered sex-specific medical care means mammography, maternity care, and gynecological care. 3. Reporting on Veterans Health Administration environment of care standards for women veterans (a) Medical facility reporting Each medical facility of the Department shall submit to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs a quarterly report on the compliance and noncompliance of the facility with the environment of care standards for women veterans. Each such report shall include the name of each person associated with such facility who is responsible for such compliance and the specific role or responsibility assigned to each such person. (b) Report to Congress Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the House of Representatives a report on the plan of the Secretary to strengthen the environment of care standards for women veterans at Department of Veterans Affairs medical facilities. Such report shall include— (1) a description of the process established to verify that noncompliance information reported under subsection (a) is accurate and complete; and (2) a description of the method by which the Secretary will— (A) ensure that all patient care areas of each Department medical facility are inspected as required; and (B) expand the list of items that facility staff inspect for compliance to align with the women’s health handbook of the Veterans Health Administration. (c) Environment of care standards for women veterans In this section, the term environment of care standards for women veterans has the meaning given that term in Veterans Health Administration Directive 1330.01(1).

May 18, 2018 Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed

tv_txt: IIB 115th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 4334 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 22, 2018 Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs AN ACT To provide for certain reporting requirements relating to medical care for women veterans provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs and through contracts entered into by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs with non-Department medical providers, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Improving Oversight of Women Veterans’ Care Act of 2018 . 2. Annual report on veteran access to covered sex-specific services under community care contracts (a) Annual report The Under Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the House of Representatives an annual report on the access of women veterans to covered sex-specific medical care under contracts with non-Department medical providers entered into by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for the provision of hospital care or medical services to veterans eligible for enrollment in the patient enrollment system of the Department of Veterans Affairs maintained under section 1705 of title 38, United States Code. Such report shall include data and performance measures for the availability of covered sex-specific medical care, including— (1) the average wait time between the veteran’s preferred appointment date and the date on which the appointment is completed; (2) driving time required for veterans to attend appointments; and (3) reasons why appointments could not be scheduled with non-Department medical providers. (b) Sunset The requirement to submit a report under this section shall terminate on the date that is 7 years after the date of the enactment of this Act. (c) Covered sex-Specific medical care In this section, the term covered sex-specific medical care means mammography, maternity care, and gynecological care. 3. Reporting on Veterans Health Administration environment of care standards for women veterans (a) Medical facility reporting Each medical facility of the Department shall submit to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs a quarterly report on the compliance and noncompliance of the facility with the environment of care standards for women veterans. Each such report shall include the name of each person associated with such facility who is responsible for such compliance and the specific role or responsibility assigned to each such person. (b) Report to Congress Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the House of Representatives a report on the plan of the Secretary to strengthen the environment of care standards for women veterans at Department of Veterans Affairs medical facilities. Such report shall include— (1) a description of the process established to verify that noncompliance information reported under subsection (a) is accurate and complete; and (2) a description of the method by which the Secretary will— (A) ensure that all patient care areas of each Department medical facility are inspected as required; and (B) expand the list of items that facility staff inspect for compliance to align with the women’s health handbook of the Veterans Health Administration. (c) Sunset The requirement to submit a report under this section shall terminate on the date that is 7 years after the date of the enactment of this Act. (d) Environment of care standards for women veterans In this section, the term environment of care standards for women veterans has the meaning given that term in Veterans Health Administration Directive 1330.01(1).

Passed the House of Representatives May 21, 2018. Karen L. Haas, Clerk