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Code · BILL · 113th Congress · S. 1950 (Placed on Calendar Senate) — To improve the provision of medical services and benefits to veterans, and for other purposes. · Sec. 501

Sec. 501. Administration of Veterans Integrated Service Networks

1,382 words·~6 min read·/bill/113/s/1950/pcs/section-501·

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Subchapter I of chapter 73 is amended by adding at the end the following new section: The Secretary shall organize the Veterans Health Administration in geographically defined Veterans Integrated Service Networks. Each Veterans Integrated Service Network shall be organized in consideration of the following: The size of the veteran population of the region of the network. The complexity of the medical needs of the veterans in such region. Patient referral patterns. The availability of a full continuum of health care services.
The ability of the Department to furnish health care efficiently. Partnerships with non-Department health care entities. The Secretary shall establish a staffing model for each Veterans Integrated Service Network that— is appropriate for the mission and responsibilities of the Veterans Integrated Service Network; and accounts for the specific health care needs of differing populations in the Veterans Integrated Service Network. The Secretary shall ensure that each Veterans Integrated Service Network complies with the staffing model established by the Secretary under paragraph
(1)for such Veterans Integrated Service Network. The Secretary shall ensure that each Veterans Integrated Service Network maintains a regional integrated healthcare system by— implementing alliances with such other governmental, public, and private health care organizations and practitioners as the Secretary considers appropriate to meet the needs of veterans in the Network; providing oversight and management of, and taking responsibility for, a regional budget for the activities of the Veterans Health Administration in the geographic area of the Network that is— aligned with the budget guidelines of the Department and the Veterans Health Administration; balanced at the end of each fiscal year; and sufficient to provide high-quality health care to veterans within the region and to meet any unique needs of the veterans of the region; using national metrics to develop systems to provide effective, efficient, and safe delivery of health care; and ensuring high-quality clinical programs and services are rendered in and through— the medical centers and outpatient clinics of the Department that are located in the Network; and other non-Department clinical or health care delivery settings located in the Network. The Secretary shall ensure that the Veterans Integrated Service Networks identify and reduce, whenever practicable, the duplication of functions in clinical, administrative, and operational processes and practices of the Veterans Health Administration. The Secretary shall ensure that each Veterans Integrated Service Network— works to achieve maximum effectiveness in patient care and safety, graduate medical education, and research; and assesses the consolidation or realignment of institutional functions, including capital asset, safety, and operational support functions, in collaboration and cooperation with other Veterans Integrated Service Networks and the following offices or entities within the geographical area of the Network: The offices of the Veterans Benefits Administration and the National Cemetery Administration. The offices, installations, and facilities of the Department of Defense, including the offices, installations, and facilities of each branch of the Armed Forces and the reserve components of the Armed Forces. The offices, installations, and facilities of the Coast Guard. Offices of State and local agencies that have a mission to provide assistance to veterans. Medical schools and other affiliates. Offices of Congress, offices of State and local elected officials, and other government offices. Federal, State, and local emergency preparedness organizations. Community and nonprofit organizations. Such other entities of the Federal Government as the Secretary considers appropriate. The Secretary shall ensure that each Veterans Integrated Service Network has only one headquarters office. The location of a headquarters office for a Veterans Integrated Service Network shall be determined by the Secretary and co-located with a Department of Veterans Affairs medical center. The Secretary may employ or contract for the services of such full time equivalent employees and contractors at the headquarters of each Veterans Integrated Service Network as the Secretary considers appropriate in accordance with the staffing models established under subsection (b). Not later than December 31 each year, the Secretary 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 employment at the headquarters of Veterans Integrated Service Networks during the most recently completed fiscal year. Each report submitted under subparagraph
(B)shall include the following for the year covered by the report: The number of individuals employed at each headquarters of a Veterans Integrated Service Network. The number of individuals employed by the Veterans Health Administration in each Veterans Integrated Service Network who are not employed at the same location as the headquarters of the Network. The title for each position of employment at a headquarters of a Veterans Integrated Service Network. The title for each position of employment with the Veterans Health Administration in each Veterans Integrated Service Network that is not at the same location as the headquarters of the Network. An assessment of the impact on the budget of the Department by the employment of individuals at the headquarters of the Veterans Integrated Service Networks. Beginning three years after the date of the enactment of this section and not less frequently than once every three years thereafter, the Secretary shall conduct a review and assessment of the structure and operations of the Veterans Integrated Service Networks in order to identify recommendations— for streamlining and reducing costs associated with the operation of each headquarters of a Veterans Integrated Service Network; and for reducing costs of health care within the Veterans Health Administration. Not later than 180 days after conducting a review and assessment under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall submit to the Committee of Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives a report on such review and assessment, which shall include such recommendations for legislative or administrative action as the Secretary considers appropriate to improve the Veterans Integrated Service Networks. . The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 73 is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 7309 the following new item: 7310. Veterans Integrated Service Networks. . In the case of a headquarters office of a Veterans Integrated Service Network that on the day before the date of the enactment of this Act was in a location that was not co-located with a Department of Veterans Affairs medical center and the Secretary is engaged in a lease for such location, the Secretary may— relocate such headquarters upon the expiration of such lease so that such headquarters is co-located as required by section 7310(f)(2) of title 38, United States Code (as added by subsection (a)(1)); or notwithstanding such section 7310(f)(2) (as so added), renew such lease or enter into a new lease to keep such headquarters in such location. If the Secretary renews a lease or engages in a new lease under paragraph (1)(B), the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives, before renewing such lease or engaging in such lease, a report describing the reasons for such renewal or engagement. Such report shall include the following: A list of Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers in the Veterans Integrated Service Network of the headquarters with underutilized buildings, the number of such buildings, and the total underutilized square footage for each such medical center. The cost of the current lease (the annual amount of rent, the total cost over the life of the lease, and the total cost per square foot) and the current square footage being leased. The cost of the new lease (the annual amount of rent, the total cost over the life of the lease, and the total cost per square foot) and the square footage to be leased. Nothing in this section shall be construed to require any change in the location or type of medical care or service provided by a Department of Veterans Affairs medical center, a Department community based outpatient clinic, a center for readjustment counseling and related mental health services for veterans under section 1712A of title 38, United States Code (known as a vet center ), or other facility that provides direct care or services under a law administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. This section, and the amendments made by this section, shall take effect on the date that is one year after the date of the enactment of this Act.
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