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108th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 2063
To require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a
demonstration project on priorities in the scheduling of appointments
of veterans for health care through the Department of Veterans Affairs,
and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
February 10, 2004
Mr. Conrad (for himself, Mr. Graham of Florida, Mr. Rockefeller, Mr.
Akaka, and Mr. Johnson) introduced the following bill; which was read
twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a
demonstration project on priorities in the scheduling of appointments
of veterans for health care through the Department of Veterans Affairs,
and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. DEMONSTRATION PROJECT ON PRIORITIES IN SCHEDULING OF
APPOINTMENTS OF VETERANS FOR HEALTH CARE THROUGH THE
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.
(a) Project Required.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall
carry out a demonstration project to assess the feasibility and
advisability of providing for priorities in the scheduling of
appointments of veterans for health care through the Department of
Veterans Affairs in accordance with the following:
(1) The Department of Veterans Affairs Waiting Time for
Appointments goals (30-30-20) of 2000.
(2) The provisions of the Veterans Health Administration
directive entitled ``Priority For Outpatient Medical Services
and Inpatient Hospital Care'' (VHA Directive 2002-059).
(3) The provisions of the Veterans Health Administration
directive entitled ``Priority Scheduling for Outpatient Medical
Services and Inpatient Hospital Care for Service Connected
Veterans'' (VHA Directive 2003-062), dated October 23, 2003.
(b) Period of Project.--The Secretary shall carry out the
demonstration project during the two-year period beginning on October
1, 2004.
(c) Locations of Project.--(1) The Secretary shall carry out the
demonstration project throughout each of three Veterans Integrated
Service Networks (VISNs) selected by the Secretary for purposes of the
project.
(2) In selecting Veterans Integrated Service Networks under
paragraph (1), the Secretary shall ensure that the project is carried
out in urban, rural, and highly rural areas.
(d) Project Requirements and Authorities.--(1) Except as provided
in paragraphs (2) and (3), in carrying out the demonstration project
the Secretary shall schedule appointments for veterans for outpatient
medical services and inpatient hospital care through the Department in
accordance with the goals and directives referred to in subsection (a).
(2) The veterans covered by the demonstration project shall include
any veterans residing in a Veterans Integrated Service Network covered
by the project, whether new or current enrollees with the Department
and including veterans with service-connected disabilities and veterans
with non-service-connected disabilities.
(3) The Secretary shall schedule each appointment under the
demonstration project in a Department facility unless, as determined by
the Secretary--
(A) the cost of scheduling the appointment in a Department
facility exceeds the cost of scheduling the appointment in a
non-Department facility to an unreasonable degree; or
(B) the scheduling of the appointment in a non-Department
facility is required for medical or other reasons.
(4) In carrying out the demonstration project, the Secretary may
utilize the Preferred Pricing Program (PPP) of the Department, or
similar programs or authorities, in the locations covered by the
project.
(5) In this subsection, the terms ``Department facility'' and
``non-Department facility'' have the meaning given such terms in
section 1701 of title 38, United States Code.
(e) Annual Reports on Waiting Times for Appointments for Care and
Services.--(1) Not later than January 31 each year, the Secretary shall
submit to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the
House of Representatives a report on the waiting times of veterans for
appointments for health care and services from the Department during
the preceding year.
(2) Each report under paragraph (1) shall specify, for the year
covered by the report, the following:
(A) A tabulation of the waiting time of veterans for
appointments with the Department for each category of primary
or specialty care or services furnished by the Department,
broken out by particular Department facility and by Veterans
Integrated Service Network.
(B) An identification of the categories of specialty care
or services for which there are lengthy delays for appointments
at particular Department facilities or throughout particular
Veterans Integrated Service Networks, and, for each category so
identified, recommendations for the reallocation of personnel,
financial, and other resources to address such delays.
(f) Report on Project.--The report under subsection (e) in 2007
shall also include information on the demonstration project under this
section. That information shall include--
(1) a description of the project, including the Veterans
Integrated Service Networks selected for the project, the
number of veterans covered by the project, the number and
timeliness of appointments scheduled under the project, and the
costs of carrying out the project;
(2) an assessment of the feasibility and advisability of
implementing the project nationwide; and
(3) such other information with respect to the project as
the Secretary considers appropriate.
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