113 S2311 IS: To amend title 38, United States Code, to include licensed hearing aid specialists as eligible for appointment in the Veterans Health Administration of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.
U.S. Senate
2014-05-08
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1.Appointment of licensed hearing aid specialists in Veterans Health Administration
(a)
Licensed hearing aid specialists
(1)
Section 7401(3) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by inserting licensed hearing aid specialists,
after Audiologists,
.
(2)
Section 7402(b)(14) of such title is amended by inserting licensed hearing aid specialist,
after licensed physical therapist,
.
(b)
(1)
Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, and each year thereafter, the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to Congress a report on the
following:
(A)
Timely access of veterans to hearing health services through the Department of Veterans Affairs.
(B)
Contracting policies of the Department with respect to providing hearing health services to
veterans in facilities that are not facilities of the Department.
(2)
Timely access to services
Each report shall, with respect to the matter specified in paragraph (1)(A) for the one-year period
preceding the submittal of such report, include the following:
(A)
The staffing levels of audiologists, hearing aid specialists, and health technicians in
audiology in the Veterans Health
Administration.
(B)
A description of the metrics used by the Secretary in measuring performance with respect to
appointments and care
relating to hearing health.
(C)
The average time that a veteran waits to receive an appointment,
beginning on the date on which the veteran makes the request, for the
following:
(i)
A disability rating evaluation for a hearing-related disability.
(ii)
A hearing aid evaluation.
(iii)
Dispensing of hearing aids.
(iv)
Any follow-up hearing health appointment.
(D)
The percentage of veterans whose total wait time for appointments described in subparagraph (C),
including an initial
and follow-up appointment, if applicable, is—
(i)
less than 15 days;
(ii)
between 15 days and 28 days;
(iii)
between 29 days and 42 days;
(iv)
between 43 days and 56 days; or
(v)
more than 56 days.(3)Each report shall, with respect to the matter specified in paragraph (1)(B) for the one-year period
preceding the submittal of such report, include the following:
(A)
The number of veterans that the Secretary refers to non-Department audiologists for hearing health
care appointments.
(B)
Of the veterans described in subparagraph (A), the number of veterans that the Secretary refers to
non-Department
hearing aid specialists for follow-up appointments for a hearing aid
evaluation, the dispensing of hearing aids, or any other purpose relating
to hearing health.
(C)
The policies of the Veterans Health Administration regarding the referral of veterans to
non-Department hearing aid specialists and a description of the manner in
which such policies will be
applied under the Patient-Centered Community Care program of the
Department.