Sec. 333. Studies of barriers encountered by veterans in receiving, and administrators and clinicians in providing, complementary and alternative medicine services furnished by the Department of Veterans Affairs
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The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall conduct comprehensive studies of the barriers encountered by veterans in receiving, and administrators and clinicians in providing, complementary and alternative medicine services furnished by the Department of Veterans Affairs. In conducting the study of veterans, the Secretary shall— survey veterans who seek or receive hospital care or medical services furnished by the Department, as well as veterans who do not seek or receive such care or services; administer the survey to a representative sample of veterans from each Veterans Integrated Service Network; and ensure that the sample of veterans surveyed is of sufficient size for the study results to be statistically significant.
In conducting the study of clinicians and administrators, the Secretary shall— survey administrators of the Department who are involved in the provision of health care services; survey clinicians that have provided complementary and alternative medicine services through the program established under section 332 of this Act, after those clinicians have provided those services through such program for at least 90 days; and administer the survey to administrators under clause (i)— before the introduction of complementary and alternative medicine services through such program; and not earlier than 90 days after the introduction of complementary and alternative medicine services through such program.
In conducting the study of veterans required by subsection (a), the Secretary shall study the following: The perceived barriers associated with obtaining complementary and alternative medicine services from the Department. The satisfaction of veterans with complementary and alternative medicine services in primary care. The degree to which veterans are aware of eligibility requirements for, and the scope of services available under, complementary and alternative medicine services furnished by the Department.
The effectiveness of outreach to veterans on the availability of complementary and alternative medicine for veterans. Such other barriers as the Secretary considers appropriate. In conducting the study of administrators and clinicians required by subsection (a), the Secretary shall study the following: The extent of the integration of complementary and alternative medicine services within the services provided by the Department. The perception by administrators and clinicians of the structural and attitudinal barriers to the delivery of high quality complementary and alternative medicine services by the Department.
Strategies that have been used to reduce or eliminate such barriers and the results of such strategies. The satisfaction of administrators and clinicians regarding the integration of complementary and alternative medicine services within the services provided by the Department. The perception by administrators and clinicians of the value of specific complementary and alternative medicine services for inpatient and outpatient veteran populations. The Secretary shall enter into a contract with a qualified independent entity or organization to carry out the studies required by this section.
The Secretary shall ensure that the head of the National Research Advisory Council reviews the results of the studies conducted under this section. The head of the National Research Advisory Council shall submit findings with respect to the studies to the Under Secretary for Health and to other pertinent program offices within the Department with responsibilities relating to health care services for veterans. Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the status of the implementation of this section.
Not later than 45 days after the date of the completion of the study, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the study required by subsection (a). The report required by subparagraph
(A)shall include the following: Recommendations for such administrative and legislative proposals and actions as the Secretary considers appropriate. The findings of the head of the National Research Advisory Council and of the Under Secretary for Health. There is authorized to be appropriated for fiscal year 2015 for the Department of Veterans Affairs, $2,000,000 to carry out this section. In this section, the term complementary and alternative medicine shall have the meaning given that term in section 331(e) of this Act.