Sec. 204. Mobile temporary health staffing program to ensure access and continuity of care
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/bill/118/s/2679/is/section-204·A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
Not later than two years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary for Health of the Department of Veterans Affairs shall establish a mobile temporary staffing program (in this section referred to as the Program ) to temporarily fill vacancies and employee absences for certain positions within the Veterans Health Administration, including by combining any existing similar programs of the Veterans Health Administration within the Program. At a minimum, the Program shall include— a team of individuals representing each shortage occupation or high-turnover occupation within the Veterans Health Administration; and a request mechanism for facilities of the Veterans Health Administration to request those individuals to be temporarily assigned to fill vacancies and employee absences.
A facility of the Veterans Health Administration shall obtain priority assignment for staffing of an occupancy type under the Program if the facility has only one position of that occupancy type and that position is vacant or functionally vacant due to the employee in question being under administrative investigation, detailed out of such position, or otherwise not performing their regular care delivery duties. An individual temporarily assigned to a position at a facility of the Veterans Health Administration under the Program— shall not be permitted to permanently occupy the position; and shall not be permitted to fill a non-temporary employment vacancy.
Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary for Health shall submit to Congress a report detailing the plans of the Under Secretary to establish the Program. Not later than one year after the establishment of the Program, and annually thereafter, the Under Secretary for Health shall submit to Congress— data on staffing under the Program, including— where temporary assignments occurred under the Program and for what length of time; the top three positions with respect to which temporary assignments are requested; and any other data and analysis the Secretary considers appropriate; an assessment of any additional incentives, including any legislative action to carry out those incentives, to incentivize employees of the Veterans Health Administration to participate in the Program; and any other matters the Secretary considers appropriate.
The report required under subparagraph
(A)may be submitted as part of another workforce-related report submitted by the Department of Veterans Affairs to Congress.