Sec. 104. MODIFICATION OF REQUIREMENTS FOR STANDARDS FOR QUALITY OF CARE FROM DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

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## SEC. 104 MODIFICATION OF REQUIREMENTS FOR STANDARDS FOR QUALITY OF CARE FROM DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS ###

(a)In General Section 1703C of title 38, United States Code, is amended— ####

(1)in subsection (a)— #####

(A)in paragraph (2)— ######

(i)by striking “In establishing” and inserting “(A) In establishing”; and ######

(ii)by adding at the end the following new subparagraph: > > ##### “(B) > > The Secretary shall ensure that the standards for quality established under paragraph

(1)are comparable to industry standards to ensure there is adequate data transference between care furnished by the Department and care furnished by a non-Department provider.” > ; #####

(B)in paragraph (3)(B), by adding at the end the following new clause: > > ###### “(v) > > Outcomes relating to patient quality of life.” > ; #####

(C)in paragraph (4)— ######

(i)by striking “and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services” and inserting “the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, and the Indian Health Service”; and ######

(ii)by striking “and other nongovernmental entities” and inserting “and other non-governmental entities including Third Party Administrators”; and #####

(D)by striking paragraph

(5)and inserting the following new paragraphs: > > #### “(5) > > When collecting, considering, and applying data related to patient care for purposes of establishing standards for quality under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall ensure no metric is being over or under analyzed. > > > #### “(6) > > In establishing standards for quality under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall— > > > ##### “(A) > > utilize the most up-to-date practices for extracting and analyzing relevant data; > > > ##### “(B) > > utilize all relevant data available to the Secretary; > > > ##### “(C) > > ensure the most efficient use of time and resources related to the use of data scientists employed by the Department; and > > > ##### “(D) > > collaborate, as appropriate, with entities specified in paragraph (4). > > > #### “(7) > > > #####

(A)> > Not less frequently than once every five years, the Secretary shall update the standards for quality established under paragraph

(1)pursuant to the requirements for the establishment of such standards under this subsection. > > > ##### “(B) > > Not later than 30 days after any date on which the Secretary updates, pursuant to subparagraph (A), the standards for quality under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report on such updated standards for quality.” > ; and ####

(2)in subsection (b)— #####

(A)in paragraph (1)— ######

(i)by striking “Not later than 1 year after the date on which the Secretary establishes standards for 138 STAT. 2712 quality under subsection (a)” and inserting “Not less frequently than once every three years”; and ######

(ii)by inserting “pursuant to standards for quality under subsection (a)” after “medical facilities of the Department”; and #####

(B)in paragraph (2), by inserting “or updates” after “establishes”. ###

(b)Deadline for Update **[**[38 U.S.C. 1703C note](/us/usc/t38/s1703C)**]** The Secretary, pursuant to paragraph

(7)of section 1703C(a) of title 38, United States Code (as added by subsection (a)), shall make the first update to the standards for quality established under paragraph

(1)of such section not later than the date that is five years after the date on which the Secretary submits the report under paragraph

(2)of subsection (d). ###

(c)Report Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report on how the Secretary— ####

(1)has consulted with entities specified in paragraph

(4)of section 1703C(a) of title 38, United States Code, before the date of the enactment of this Act in establishing standards for quality under such section; ####

(2)has continued to consult with those entities on and after such date of enactment; and ####

(3)intends to leverage data sciences to improve standards for quality care furnished by the Department of Veterans Affairs. ###

(d)Updates to Quality Care Metrics **[**[38 U.S.C. 1703C note](/us/usc/t38/s1703C)**]** ####

(1)Initial report Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report on how the Secretary plans to implement the amendments made by subsections (a). ####

(2)Deadline; summary report Not later than two years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall— #####

(A)implement the amendments made by subsection (a), including by updating the standards for quality established under section 1703C of title 38, United States Code; and #####

(B)submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report detailing the standards for quality updated pursuant to such amendments. ###

(e)Audit of Quality Care Metrics ####

(1)In general Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall enter into one or more contracts with a non-Department entity described in paragraph

(2)to conduct an audit on the quality of care from the Department of Veterans Affairs, including through non-Department health care providers pursuant to section 1703 of title 38 United States Code. ####

(2)Non-department entity described A non-Department entity described in this paragraph is an entity that— #####

(A)specializes in analyzing large-scale organizational data collection and analysis efforts, especially with respect to the health care sector; and #####

(B)has experience and proven outcomes in optimizing the accuracy and comprehensiveness of data collection and analysis related to the quality of health care services. ####

(3)Elements The audit required under paragraph

(1)shall include the following: #####

(A)An assessment of the methodology used by the Department to collect and assess data on the quality of care furnished by the Department, including any vulnerabilities in such methodology. #####

(B)An assessment of the accuracy and reliability of the data sources used by the Department to compile data on the quality of care furnished by the Department. #####

(C)The extent to which the standards the Department uses to assess the quality of care furnished by the Department are— ######

(i)comparable with industry standards; ######

(ii)easily accessible to, and understood by— ######

(I)veterans; ######

(II)employees of the Department; and ######

(III)other individuals, as the private sector entity considers appropriate. #####

(D)Any recommendations of such private sector entity with respect to improvements that the Secretary could administer to more accurately capture the quality of care furnished by the Department. ####

(4)Reports on audit #####

(A)Report on findings and recommendations Not later than 60 days after any date on which a private sector entity described in paragraph

(2)completes an audit under paragraph (1), such private sector entity shall submit to the Secretary, the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate, and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives a report that includes— ######

(i)the findings of such audit; and ######

(ii)recommendations of such private sector entity with respect to such audit. #####

(B)Report on planned improvements Not later than 60 days after any date on which the Secretary receives a report under subparagraph (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 how the Secretary plans to improve the standards for quality of care of the Department. ###

(f)Appropriate Committees of Congress Defined **[**[38 U.S.C. 1703C note](/us/usc/t38/s1703C)**]** In this section, the term “appropriate committees of Congress” has the meaning given such term in section 1703C of title 38, United States Code.

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38 USC 1703C

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Sec. 104

MODIFICATION OF REQUIREMENTS FOR STANDARDS FOR QUALITY OF CARE FROM DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

Cite38 USC 1703C

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