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SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Veterans E-Health and Telemedicine 
Support Act of 2017'' or the ``VETS Act of 2017''.

SEC. 2. LICENSURE OF HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF 
              VETERANS AFFAIRS PROVIDING TREATMENT VIA TELEMEDICINE.

    (a) In General.--Chapter 17 of title 38, United States Code, is 
amended by inserting after section 1730A the following new section:
``Sec. 1730B. Licensure of health care professionals providing 
              treatment via telemedicine
    ``(a) In General.--Notwithstanding any provision of law regarding 
the licensure of health care professionals, a covered health care 
professional may practice the health care profession of the health care 
professional at any location in any State, regardless of where the 
covered health care professional or the patient is located, if the 
covered health care professional is using telemedicine to provide 
treatment to an individual under this chapter.
    ``(b) Property of Federal Government.--Subsection (a) shall apply 
to a covered health care professional providing treatment to a patient 
regardless of whether the covered health care professional or patient 
is located in a facility owned by the Federal Government during such 
treatment.
    ``(c) Construction.--Nothing in this section may be construed to 
remove, limit, or otherwise affect any obligation of a covered health 
care professional under the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 801 et 
seq.).
    ``(d) Covered Health Care Professional Defined.--In this section, 
the term `covered health care professional' means a health care 
professional who--
            ``(1) is an employee of the Department appointed under the 
        authority under sections 7306, 7401, 7405, 7406, or 7408 of 
        this title, or title 5;
            ``(2) is authorized by the Secretary to provide health care 
        under this chapter;
            ``(3) is required to adhere to all quality standards 
        relating to the provision of telemedicine in accordance with 
        applicable policies of the Department; and
            ``(4) has an active, current, full, and unrestricted 
        license, registration, or certification in a State to practice 
        the health care profession of the health care professional.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of 
chapter 17 of such title is amended by inserting after the item 
relating to section 1730A the following new item:

``1730B. Licensure of health care professionals providing treatment via 
                            telemedicine.''.
    (c) Report on Telemedicine.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
        the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
        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 effectiveness of the use of 
        telemedicine by the Department of Veterans Affairs.
            (2) Elements.--The report required by paragraph (1) shall 
        include an assessment of the following:
                    (A) The satisfaction of veterans with telemedicine 
                furnished by the Department.
                    (B) The satisfaction of health care providers in 
                providing telemedicine furnished by the Department.
                    (C) The effect of telemedicine furnished by the 
                Department on the following:
                            (i) The ability of veterans to access 
                        health care, whether from the Department or 
                        from non-Department health care providers.
                            (ii) The frequency of use by veterans of 
                        telemedicine.
                            (iii) The productivity of health care 
                        providers.
                            (iv) Wait times for an appointment for the 
                        receipt of health care from the Department.
                            (v) The reduction, if any, in the use by 
                        veterans of in-person services at Department 
                        facilities and non-Department facilities.
                    (D) The types of appointments for the receipt of 
                telemedicine furnished by the Department that were 
                provided during the 1-year period preceding the 
                submittal of the report.
                    (E) The number of appointments for the receipt of 
                telemedicine furnished by the Department that were 
                requested during such period, disaggregated by Veterans 
                Integrated Service Network.
                    (F) Savings by the Department, if any, including 
                travel costs, of furnishing health care 


              

                through the use of telemedicine during such period.

            Passed the House of Representatives November 7, 2017.

            Attest:

                                                 KAREN L. HAAS,

                                                                 Clerk.
.  Veterans E-Health and Telemedicine Support Act of 2017 or the VETS Act of 2017  (Sec. 2) This bill allows a licensed health care professional of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to practice his or her profession using telemedicine at any location in any state regardless of where the professional or patient is located if the covered health care professional is using telemedicine to provide VA medical or health services.   Such authority shall apply to a covered health care professional regardless of whether the covered health care professional or patient is located in a federally-owned facility.   The bill defines &quot;covered health care professional&quot; as a health care professional who: (1) is a VA employee appointed under specified VA authorities or under the civil service; (2) is authorized by the VA to provide health care; (3) is required to adhere to all telemedicine quality standards; and (4) has an active, current, full, and unrestricted state license, registration, or certification for such health care profession. The VA shall report to Congress on the effectiveness of the VA's use of telemedicine.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Rural Law Enforcement Assistance Act 
of 1999''.

SEC. 2. FUNDING TO NATIONAL CENTER FOR RURAL LAW ENFORCEMENT.

    (a) Funding Authority.--The Attorney General shall provide funds, 
subject to appropriations, to the National Center for Rural Law 
Enforcement if the Executive Director of the Center certifies, in 
writing, to the Attorney General that the Center--
            (1) is incorporated in accordance with applicable State 
        laws;
            (2) is in compliance with the by-laws of the Center;
            (3) shall use amounts made available under this section in 
        accordance with subsection (b); and
            (4) shall not support any political party or candidate for 
        elected or appointed office.
    (b) Uses of Funds.--
            (1) Required uses of funds.--The Center shall use funds 
        made available under this section to develop an educational 
        program for employees of law enforcement agencies serving rural 
        areas which shall include--
                    (A) the development and delivery of management 
                education and training, technical assistance, practical 
                research and evaluation, and computer and forensic 
                education and training for employees of law enforcement 
                agencies serving rural areas, tribal law enforcement 
                employees and railroad law enforcement employees, 
                including supervisory and executive managers of those 
                agencies;
                    (B) conducting research into the causes and 
                prevention of criminal activity in rural areas, 
                including the causes, assessment, evaluation, analysis, 
                and prevention of criminal activity;
                    (C) the development and dissemination of 
                information designed to assist States and units of 
                local government in rural areas throughout the United 
                States;
                    (D) the establishment and maintenance of a resource 
                and information center for the collection, preparation, 
                and dissemination of information regarding criminal 
                justice and law enforcement in rural areas, including 
                programs for the prevention of crime and recidivism; 
                and
                    (E) the delivery of assistance, in a consulting 
                capacity, to criminal justice agencies in the 
                development, establishment, maintenance, and 
                coordination of programs, facilities and services, 
                training, and research relating to crime in rural 
                areas.
            (2) Permissive uses of funds.--The Center may use funds 
        made available under this section to enhance the educational 
        program developed under paragraph (1), through--
                    (A) educational opportunities for rural law 
                enforcement agencies;
                    (B) the development, promotion, and voluntary 
                adoption of educational and training standards and 
                accreditation certification programs for law 
                enforcement agencies serving rural areas and the 
                employees of those agencies;
                    (C) grants to, and contracts with, State, and local 
                governments, law enforcement agencies, public and 
                private agencies, educational institutions, and other 
                organizations and individuals to carry out this 
                paragraph;
                    (D) the formulation and recommendation of law 
                enforcement policy, goals, and standards in rural areas 
                applicable to criminal justice agencies, organizations, 
                institutions, and personnel; and
                    (E) coordination with institutions of higher 
                education for the purpose of encouraging programs of 
                study for law enforcement in rural areas at such 
                institutions.
    (c) Powers.--In carrying out subsection (b), the Executive Director 
may--
            (1) request the head of any Federal department or agency to 
        detail, on a reimbursable basis, any of the personnel of that 
        department or agency to the Center to assist it in carrying out 
        its duties under this Act;
            (2) request the Administrator of the General Services 
        Administration to provide the Center, on a reimbursable basis, 
        the administrative support services necessary for the Center to 
        carry out its responsibilities under this Act; and
            (3) procure temporary and intermittent services under 
        section 3109(b) of title 5, United States Code, at rates of 
        compensation established by the Board, but not to exceed the 
        daily equivalent of the maximum rate of pay payable for a 
        position at level IV of the Executive Schedule under section 
        5315 of title 5, United States Code.
    (d) Travel Expenses.--For purposes of official travel, expenses 
shall be reimbursed, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in the 
same manner as such expenses are permitted under sections 5702 and 5703 
of title 5, United States Code.
    (e) Reporting Requirements.--The Center shall submit an annual 
report to the Attorney General that includes--
            (1) a description of the education and training program 
        conducted by the Center;
            (2) the number and demographic representation of 
        individuals who attended programs sponsored by the Center;
            (3) a description of the extent resources of other 
        governmental agencies or private entities were used; and
            (5) a description of the extent contracts with other public 
        and private resources were used.
    (f) Definitions.--For purposes of this Act:
            (1) The term ``Board'' means the members of the Board of 
        the Center as elected according to its bylaws.
            (2) The term ``Center'' means the National Center for Rural 
        Law Enforcement, a nonprofit corporation located in Little 
        Rock, Arkansas.
            (3) The term ``Executive Director'' means the Executive 
        Director of the Center as appointed according to the bylaws of 
        the Center.
            (4) The term ``metropolitan statistical area'' has the same 
        meaning given such term by the Bureau of the Census.
            (5) The term ``rural law enforcement agency'' means a law 
        enforcement agency that serves a city, town, township, borough, 
        or village outside a metropolitan statistical area.
    (g) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section--
            (1) $22,000,000 for fiscal year 2000; and
            (2) such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years 
        2001 through 2005.
Rural Law Enforcement Assistance Act of 1999 - Directs the Attorney General to provide funds to the National Center for Rural Law Enforcement if the Center's Executive Director certifies in writing that the Center: (1) is incorporated in accordance with applicable State laws; (2) is in compliance with its by-laws; (3) shall use amounts made available in accordance with requirements of this Act; and (4) shall not support any political party or candidate for elected or appointed office. 
Requires the Center to use such funds to develop an educational program for employees of law enforcement agencies serving rural areas for specified purposes, including: (1) the development and delivery of management education and training for employees of law enforcement agencies serving rural areas; and (2) the delivery of assistance (in a consulting capacity) to criminal justice agencies in the development and coordination of programs, training, and research relating to crime in rural areas. 
Permits the Center to use such funds to enhance that educational program through specified means, including: (1) educational opportunities for rural law enforcement agencies; and (2) coordination with institutions of higher education to encourage programs of study for law enforcement in rural areas at such institutions. 
Sets forth reporting requirements.  Authorizes appropriations.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``VA Guidance for Organizational 
Reform and Data Integrity for Accountability Needs Key for Necessary 
and Optimal Transformation Act'' or the ``VA GORDIAN KNOT Act''.

SEC. 2. ORGANIZATION OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

    (a) Independent Assessment.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
        seek to enter into an agreement with an independent entity to 
        conduct an assessment of the organization of the Department of 
        Veterans Affairs.
            (2) Elements.--The assessment under paragraph (1) shall 
        include the following:
                    (A) Whether the current organization of the 
                Department is conducive to meeting the performance 
                goals of the Department.
                    (B) An identification of the mission statement and 
                function of each element of the Department, including 
                whether any such elements have duplicative functions.
                    (C) Identification of the strengths and weaknesses 
                of the current organization.
                    (D) How many full-time equivalent positions, 
                including with respect to senior executives, are in 
                each of the Veterans Benefits Administration, the 
                National Cemetery Administration, and the Central 
                Office.
                    (E) A description of the hierarchy in each element 
                of the Department.
                    (F) An evaluation of the cost to the Department of 
                providing hospital care and medical services to 
                veterans at medical facilities of the Department as 
                compared to the cost of paying for such care and 
                services furnished by a non-Department provider 
                pursuant to the Veterans Choice Program established by 
                section 101 of the Veterans Access, Choice, and 
                Accountability Act of 2014 (38 U.S.C. 1701 note) or 
                other provision of law authorizing non-Department 
                hospital care or medical services.
                    (G) To assist in developing a long-term sustainable 
                capital asset planning process, identification of 
                underused facilities of the Department that, if closed 
                or disposed of, would not negatively affect the health 
                care or benefits provided to veterans.
                    (H) With respect to the facilities described in 
                subparagraph (E), a plan to engage veteran populations, 
                veteran service organizations, and other organizations 
                and stakeholders that work with veterans to identify 
                such facilities and determine whether veterans have the 
                ability to seek services by non-Department providers 
                under the laws administered by the Secretary.
            (3) Submission.--Not later than one year after the date of 
        the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the 
        Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives 
        and the Senate the assessment under paragraph (1).
    (b) Status of Organization.--Not later than October 1 of 2020, and 
annually thereafter, the Secretary shall--
            (1) either--
                    (A) update the organizational structure of the 
                Office of the Secretary, the Veterans Health 
                Administration, the Veterans Benefits Administration, 
                and the National Cemetery Administration to ensure that 
                such structure is best able to provide benefits to 
                veterans; or
                    (B) certify to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs 
                of the House of Representatives and the Senate that 
                such structure does not require such updates; and
            (2) make publically available such update or certification, 
        as the case may be, including clear organizational charts of 
        the Office of the Secretary, the Veterans Health 
        Administration, the Veterans Benefits Administration, and the 
        National Cemetery Administration.

SEC. 3. IMPROVEMENTS TO HIRING AND RETAINING EMPLOYEES.

    (a) Improvements to Hiring.--
            (1) Hiring plan.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
        ensure that each medical facility of the Department of Veterans 
        Affairs, including community based outpatient clinics, has a 
        hiring plan to address the health care needs of the facility.
            (2) Sharing of information.--The Secretary shall establish 
        a system that lists each vacant position in a medical facility 
        of the Department that is covered under the hiring plan under 
        paragraph (1). If the Secretary determines that an applicant 
        for such a vacant position is qualified for the position but is 
        not selected for the position, the Secretary may consider the 
        applicant for other similar positions listed in the system.
            (3) Data.--The Secretary shall keep records on--
                    (A) the amount of time a vacant position described 
                in paragraph (2) remains unfilled;
                    (B) positions that have been vacant for a prolonged 
                period and such vacancy--
                            (i) is related to a whistleblower case; and
                            (ii) has affected the ability of the 
                        Department to provide quality and timely health 
                        care of veterans; and
                    (C) whether an employee of the Department who 
                transfers from one medical facility of the Department 
                to another such facility was reprimanded, placed on 
                administrative leave, or appealed an allegation at the 
                previous position of the employee within the 
                Department.
            (4) Submission.--Upon the request of either the Committee 
        on Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives or the 
        Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate, the Secretary 
        shall submit to the committee the records specified in 
        paragraph (3).
    (b) Exit Interviews.--The Secretary shall ensure that each employee 
of the Department who voluntarily separates from the Department is 
afforded the opportunity to complete an interview in order for the 
Secretary to ascertain--
            (1) the reason the employee is separating;
            (2) the opinion of the employee with respect to being 
        employed at the Department; and
            (3) ways in which the Secretary can better improve the 
        retention of employees of the Department.

SEC. 4. INTEGRITY OF HEALTH CARE DATA.

    (a) Certain Definitions.--Section 7311 of title 38, United States 
Code, is amended by inserting at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(f) For purposes of determining the validity of health care data 
collected pursuant to this section or any other provision of law 
regarding the employees of the Veterans Health Administration, the 
Secretary shall develop standard definitions for--
            ``(1) the actions that constitute the manipulation of data 
        regarding scheduling appointments for health care; and
            ``(2) the ways in which such employees are held accountable 
        for such manipulation.''.
    (b) Verification of Data.--
            (1) Designation.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
        ensure that a single position in each office described in 
        paragraph (2) is designated as being responsible for verifying 
        the accuracy of the data reported from such office to a 
        superior office.
            (2) Office described.--An office described in this 
        paragraph is each of the following:
                    (A) A medical facility of the Department of 
                Veterans Affairs.
                    (B) A Veterans Integrated Service Network.
                    (C) A regional office of the Veterans Benefits 
                Administration.
                    (D) The central office of the Veterans Benefits 
                Administration.
    (c) Assessment.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary shall seek to enter into an 
        agreement with an independent, non-governmental entity to 
        assess whether this section, and the amendment made by this 
        section, improves the accuracy of data of the Department of 
        Veterans Affairs.
            (2) Submission.--Not later than one year after the date of 
        the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the 
        Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives 
        and the Senate the assessment conducted under paragraph (1).
    (d) Report.--Not later than one year after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on 
Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Senate a 
report containing--
            (1) a study on--
                    (A) the data collected or used by the Veterans 
                Health Administration and the Veterans Benefits 
                Administration, including data that the Secretary, as 
                of the date of the study, allows to be self-reported by 
                the appropriate office; and
                    (B) what metrics the Secretary should be using to 
                track such data;
            (2) an implementation plan to correct any vulnerabilities 
        regarding the accuracy of such data;
            (3) a description of the Department-wide minimal standards 
        and guidelines to reprimand employees of the Department who 
        knowingly provide false information to Federal investigators or 
        who knowingly provide inaccurate information when testifying 
        before a committee of Congress; and
            (4) an identification of the recommendations regarding data 
        integrity, information technology, organizational reforms, 
        management improvements, or hiring and retaining employees 
        reported by or made by the independent assessment under section 
        201 of the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 
        2014 (Public Law 113-146; 128 Stat. 1769), the Commission on 
        Care, the Comptroller General of the United States, and the 
        Inspector General of the Department of Veterans Affairs that, 
        as of the date of the report, have not been implemented, and a 
        plan to implement such recommendations and track the progress 
        of such implementation.
    (e) Study of Costs.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary shall conduct a study to 
        determine the costs to the United States relating to officials 
        and employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs 
        manipulating health care data, providing negligent management, 
        and retaliating against whistleblowers, during the five-year 
        period preceding such study.
            (2) Elements.--The study under paragraph (1) shall include 
        the following:
                    (A) The amount of money that the Federal Government 
                has spent, by fiscal year, on settlements (including 
                confidential settlements) with whistleblowers of the 
                Department.
                    (B) The number of hours that employees of the 
                Federal Government have spent to defend the Department 
                in administrative or judicial proceedings with respect 
                to employees of the Department accused of manipulating 
                health care data, providing negligent management, or 
                retaliating against whistleblowers.
                    (C) Obstacles preventing the Secretary from 
                demoting, removing, or terminating an employee of the 
                Department based on performance or misconduct.
            (3) Submission.--Not later than one year after the date of 
        the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the 
        Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives 
        and the Senate a report containing the study under paragraph 
        (1).

SEC. 5. PUBLICATION OF WAIT TIMES.

    (a) Publication of Wait Times.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
shall make publically available on the Internet website of the 
Department of Veterans Affairs the current wait times for a veteran 
enrolled in the health care system established under section 1705(a) of 
title 38, United States Code, to receive an appointment for health care 
at a medical facility of the Department of Veterans Affairs. Such wait 
time shall be categorized by primary care, specialty care, and mental 
health services and include an explanation on the metrics used to 
determine such wait times.
    (b) Transparency.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall seek to 
enter into an agreement with the Comptroller General of the United 
States or an independent entity to conduct an assessment of the 
accuracy of the wait times published under subsection (a). The 
Secretary shall publish information regarding such assessment on the 
Internet website described in subsection (a).
    (c) Wait Time Defined.--In this section, the term ``wait time'' 
means, with respect to a veteran receiving an appointment at a medical 
facility of the Department of Veterans Affairs, the period beginning on 
the date on which the veteran first requests such appointment and 
ending on the date on which such appointment occurs.

SEC. 6. TRANSFER AUTHORITY.

    (a) In General.--Chapter 1 of title 38, United States Code, is 
amended by inserting after section 117 the following new section:
``Sec. 117A. Transfer authority
    ``(a) In General.--In addition to any other provision of law 
authorizing the transfer of amounts by the Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs, in any fiscal year in which there is a shortfall, the 
Secretary may transfer covered amounts to accounts of the Department 
for purposes of mitigating or removing such shortfall.
    ``(b) Notification.--In any fiscal year in which there is a 
shortfall and the Secretary does not make a transfer under subsection 
(a), the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs 
of the House of Representatives and the Senate justifications for not 
making such transfer.
    ``(c) Definitions.--In this section:
            ``(1) The term `covered amounts' means amounts made 
        available to the Secretary for awards or bonuses under chapter 
        45 or 53 of title 5, United States Code, or any other awards or 
        bonuses authorized under such title or this title.
            ``(2) The term `shortfall' means the event, as determined 
        by the Secretary, that the funds made available to the 
        Secretary for a fiscal year are not sufficient to provide the 
        benefits under the laws administered by the Secretary or 
        otherwise carry out the responsibilities of the Department 
        during any period of such fiscal year.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of 
such chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 
117 the following new item:

``117A. Transfer authority.''.

VA Guidance for Organizational Reform and Data Integrity for Accountability Needs Key for Necessary and Optimal Transformation Act or the VA GORDIAN KNOT Act This bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to enter into an agreement for an independent assessment of its organization, which shall evaluate: (1) whether the VA's current organization is conducive to meeting its performance goals, and (2) the cost of providing hospital care and medical services to veterans at VA medical facilities compared to the cost of paying for such care and services furnished by a non-VA provider pursuant to the Veterans Choice Program. The VA shall ensure that: (1) each VA medical facility has a hiring plan, and (2) each VA employee who voluntarily separates is afforded the opportunity to complete an exit interview.  The VA shall: (1) develop standard definitions for the actions that constitute the manipulation of data regarding scheduling health care appointments and the ways in which Veterans Health Administration employees are held accountable for such manipulation; (2) ensure that a single position in each VA medical facility and office is designated as being responsible for verifying the accuracy of reported health care data; (3) enter into an agreement for an independent assessment of whether such requirements improve the accuracy of VA data; and (4) study and report on VA health care data integrity and on costs relating to VA employees manipulating health care data, providing negligent management, and retaliating against whistleblowers. The VA shall: (1) make publicly available on its website the current wait times for a veteran enrolled in the VA health care system to receive an appointment at a VA facility, (2) enter into an agreement for an assessment of the accuracy of such wait times, and (3) publish information regarding such assessment. The VA may transfer specified amounts among its accounts to mitigate or remove any shortfall or justify not making such transfer.