Sec. 3102. Audits regarding scheduling of appointments and management of consultations for health care from Department of Veterans Affairs and non-Department health care
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Not later than each of one year and two years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall provide for the conduct of a facility-level audit of the scheduling of appointments and the management of consultations for health care under the laws administered by the Secretary. The first audit required under subsection
(a)shall apply to each medical facility of the Department of Veterans Affairs. The second audit required under subsection
(a)shall apply to only those medical facilities of the Department that are in need of corrective action based on the first audit, as determined by the Secretary. Each audit conducted under subsection
(a)shall include the following: With respect to each medical center of the Department covered by the audit, an assessment of any scheduling or consultation management issues at that medical center, including the following: An assessment of noncompliance with policies of the Veterans Health Administration relating to scheduling appointments and managing consultations. An assessment of the extent to which appointments or consultations are not timely processed. A description of any backlogs in appointments or consultations that are awaiting action. An assessment of whether consultations are appropriately processed. Data with respect to consultations as follows: Consultations that were scheduled within the request window. Duplicate consultation requests. Consultations that were discontinued. Delays in consultations. Consultations that were not properly closed or discontinued, including a description of remediation attempts. A review for accuracy with respect to consultation management as follows: A review of the accuracy of the type of service, either administrative or clinical, that is inputted in the electronic health record. A review of the accuracy of the type of consultation setting, either impatient or outpatient, that is inputted in the electronic health record. A review of the appropriateness of the level of urgency of the consultation that is inputted in the electronic health record. A review of any delayed or unresolved consultations. An identification of such recommendations for corrective action as the Secretary considers necessary, including additional training, increased personnel, and other resources. A certification that the director of each medical center of the Department covered by the audit is in compliance with the process and requirements established under section 3101(a) and such other requirements relating to the scheduling of appointments and management of consultations as the Secretary considers appropriate. With respect to referrals for health care between health care providers or facilities of the Department, a measurement of, for each medical facility of the Department covered by the audit— the period of time between— the date that a clinician of the Department determines that a veteran requires care from another health care provider or facility and the date that the referral for care is sent to the other health care provider or facility; the date that the referral for care is sent to the other health care provider or facility and the date that the other health care provider or facility accepts the referral; the date that the other health care provider or facility accepts the referral and the date that the appointment with the other health care provider or at the other facility is made; and the date that the appointment with the other health care provider or at the other facility is made and the date of the appointment with the other health care provider or at the other facility; and any other period of time that the Secretary determines necessary to measure. With respect to referrals for non-Department health care originating from medical facilities of the Department, a measurement of, for each such facility covered by the audit— the period of time between— the date that a clinician of the Department determines that a veteran requires care, or a veteran presents to the Department requesting care, and the date that the referral for care is sent to a non-Department health care provider; the date that the referral for care is sent to a non-Department health care provider and the date that a non-Department health care provider accepts the referral; the date that a non-Department health care provider accepts the referral and the date that the referral to a non-Department health care provider is completed; the date that the referral to a non-Department health care provider is completed and the date that an appointment with a non-Department health care provider is made; and the date that an appointment with a non-Department health care provider is made and the date that an appointment with a non-Department health care provider occurs; and any other period of time that the Secretary determines necessary to measure. Each audit conducted under subsection
(a)with respect to a medical facility of the Department shall be conducted by an individual or entity that is not affiliated with the facility. Each audit conducted under subsection
(a)shall be transmitted to the Under Secretary for Health of the Department so that the Under Secretary can— strengthen oversight of the scheduling of appointments and management of consultations throughout the Department; monitor national policy on such scheduling and management; and develop a remediation plan to address issues uncovered by those audits. Not later than December 31 of each year in which an audit is conducted under subsection (a), 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 the audit conducted during that year. The Secretary shall include in each report required by paragraph (1)— the nationwide results of the audit conducted under subsection (a); the results of such audit with respect to each medical facility of the Department covered by such audit; an assessment of how the Department strengthened oversight of the scheduling of appointments and management of consultations at each such facility as a result of the audit; an assessment of how the audit informed the national policy of the Department with respect to the scheduling of appointments and management of consultations; and a description of any remediation plans to address issues raised by the audit that was completed.