Veterans' Care Quality Transparency Act
PL 116-177 (H.R.2372), enacted 10/20/2020

[116th Congress Public Law 177]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]



[[Page 134 STAT. 851]]

Public Law 116-177
116th Congress

                                 An Act


 
  To direct the Comptroller General of the United States to conduct an 
assessment of all memoranda of understanding and memoranda of agreement 
between Under Secretary of Health and non-Department of Veterans Affairs 
       entities relating to suicide prevention and mental health 
            services. <<NOTE: Oct. 20, 2020 -  [H.R. 2372]>> 

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled, <<NOTE: Veterans' Care 
Quality Transparency Act.>> 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Veterans' Care Quality Transparency 
Act''.
SEC. 2. COMPTROLLER GENERAL ASSESSMENT OF MEMORANDA OF 
                    UNDERSTANDING AND MEMORANDA OF AGREEMENT 
                    BETWEEN UNDER SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND NON-
                    DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS ENTITIES 
                    RELATING TO SUICIDE PREVENTION AND MENTAL 
                    HEALTH SERVICES.

    (a) <<NOTE: Deadline.>>  Assessment.--Not later than 270 days after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the 
United States shall conduct an assessment of the effectiveness of all 
memoranda of understanding and memoranda of agreement entered into by 
the Under Secretary of Veterans Affairs for Health and a non-Department 
of Veterans Affairs entity relating to--
            (1) suicide prevention activities and outreach; and
            (2) <<NOTE: Time period.>>  the provision or coordination of 
        mental health services during the 5-year period preceding the 
        date of the enactment of this Act.

    (b) Contents of Assessment.--The assessment required by subsection 
(a) shall include an assessment of--
            (1) the size of the catchment area of each such entity;
            (2) the staffing structures of such entities;
            (3) any accreditation or licensure any such entity has 
        obtained in relation to the services the entity provides;
            (4) any variances in the subpopulations of veterans served 
        by such entities;
            (5) any limitations any such entity may face in carrying out 
        its obligations under the memorandum of understanding or 
        memorandum of agreement;
            (6) the extent to which the Under Secretary provides 
        oversight and tracks outcomes of such entities;
            (7) any variations in the structure or requirements of the 
        memoranda of understanding and memoranda of agreement;
            (8) a breakdown of the percentage of such entities that 
        serve--
                    (A) women veterans;

[[Page 134 STAT. 852]]

                    (B) minority veterans;
                    (C) veterans who are over the age of 55;
                    (D) veterans between the ages of 18 and 34;
                    (E) veterans who reside in United States insular 
                areas; and
                    (F) veterans' families; and
            (9) <<NOTE: Data security.>>  any measures taken to ensure 
        the secure exchange of data and information between such 
        entities and the Department of Veterans Affairs.

    (c) Report to Congress.--Not later than 270 days after the 
completion of the assessment under subsection (a), the Comptroller 
General shall submit to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the 
Senate and House of Representatives a report on the results of the 
assessment.

    Approved October 20, 2020.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--H.R. 2372:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

HOUSE REPORTS: No. 116-72 (Comm. on Veterans' Affairs).
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD:
                                                        Vol. 165 (2019):
                                    May 21, considered and passed House.
                                                        Vol. 166 (2020):
                                    Sept. 24, considered and passed 
                                        Senate.

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