Sec. 251.
438 words·~2 min read·
/bill/114/hr/5325/eas/section-251·A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall establish a program to conduct inspections of kitchens and food service areas at each medical facility of the Department of Veterans Affairs. Such inspections shall occur not less frequently than annually. The program’s goal is to ensure that the same standards for kitchens and food service areas at hospitals in the private sector are being met at kitchens and food service areas at medical facilities of the Department.
The Secretary shall seek to enter into an agreement with the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Hospital Organizations under which the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Hospital Organizations conducts the inspections required under subsection (a). If the Secretary is unable to enter into an agreement described in paragraph
(1)with the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Hospital Organizations on terms acceptable to the Secretary, the Secretary shall seek to enter into such an agreement with another appropriate organization that— is not part of the Federal Government; operates as a not-for-profit entity; and has expertise and objectivity comparable to that of the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Hospital Organizations. If a kitchen or food service area of a medical facility of the Department is determined pursuant to an inspection conducted under subsection
(a)not to meet the standards for kitchens and food service areas in hospitals in the private sector, that medical facility fails the inspection and the Secretary shall— implement a remediation plan for that medical facility within 72 hours; and Conduct a second inspection under subsection
(a)at that medical facility within 14 days of the failed inspection. If a medical facility of the Department fails the second inspection conducted under paragraph (1)(B), the Secretary shall close the kitchen or food service area at that medical facility that did not meet the standards for kitchens and food service areas in hospitals in the private sector until full remediation is completed and all kitchens and food service areas at that medical facility meet such standards. If a kitchen or food service area is closed at a medical facility of the Department pursuant to paragraph (2), the Director of the Veterans Integrated Service Network in which the medical facility is located shall enter into a contract with a vendor approved by the General Services Administration to provide food at the medical facility. Not less frequently than quarterly, the Under Secretary of Health shall submit to Congress a report on inspections conducted under this section, and their detailed findings and actions taken, during the preceding quarter at medical facilities of the Department.