3.0.0 3978 2023-01-11T13:29:24Z 2023-01-11T13:29:24Z House HR 2015-11-05 114 [Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 165 (Thursday, November 5, 2015)]From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]By Ms. MICHELLE LUJAN GRISHAM of New Mexico:H.R. 3978.Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuantto the following:This bill is encated pursuant to Section 2 of Amendment XVof the United States Constitution.[Page H8154]]]> hsvr00 Veterans' Affairs Committee House Standing hsvr03 Health Subcommittee Referred to 2015-12-03T20:51:44Z Referred to 2015-11-05T14:07:40Z 2015-12-03 hsvr03 Health Subcommittee 1 House committee actions Referred to the Subcommittee on Health. Committee 2015-11-05 Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs. IntroReferral H11100 2 House floor actions hsvr00 Veterans' Affairs Committee 2015-11-05 Introduced in House IntroReferral Intro-H 9 Library of Congress 2015-11-05 Introduced in House IntroReferral 1000 9 Library of Congress L000580 Rep. Lujan Grisham, Michelle [D-NM-1] Michelle Lujan Grisham D NM 1 N M001180 Rep. McKinley, David B. [R-WV-1] David McKinley R WV B. 1 2015-11-05 True L000570 Rep. Lujan, Ben Ray [D-NM-3] Ben Lujan D NM R. 3 2015-11-05 True P000588 Rep. Pearce, Stevan [R-NM-2] Stevan Pearce R NM 2 2015-11-05 True K000382 Rep. Kuster, Ann M. [D-NH-2] Ann Kuster D NH M. 2 2015-12-08 False V000132 Rep. Vela, Filemon [D-TX-34] Filemon Vela D TX 34 2016-02-23 False L000579 Rep. Lowenthal, Alan S. [D-CA-47] Alan Lowenthal D CA S. 47 2016-04-18 False G000574 Rep. Gallego, Ruben [D-AZ-7] Ruben Gallego D AZ 7 2016-09-26 False Armed Forces and National Security Administrative remedies Department of Veterans Affairs Executive agency funding and structure Government information and archives Government studies and investigations Health care coverage and access Health care quality Health facilities and institutions Hospital care Veterans' medical care Veterans' organizations and recognition Armed Forces and National Security 00 2015-11-05 Introduced in House 2015-11-13T15:32:12Z Ensuring Fair Access to Veterans Healthcare Act

This bill establishes in the Veterans Health Administration an Office of the Ombudsman, which shall:

  • investigate and resolve complaints made by or on behalf of patients receiving medical care or hospital services at a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical facility (covered patients) that relate to action, inaction, or decisions made by VA employees that may adversely affect such patients;
  • assist covered patients in finding patient advocates, veterans service organizations, or other similar entities to advocate for their health, safety, welfare, and rights;
  • ensure that covered patients have regular and timely access to Office services;
  • administer the reporting system provided for by this Act; and
  • provide training to local ombudsmen and volunteers.

The Office shall establish a reporting system to collect and analyze complaint data in order to determine how to resolve significant VA medical facility problems.

Each VA medical facility shall have a local ombudsman responsible for carrying out the duties of the Office at such location.

]]> Ensuring Fair Access to Veterans Healthcare Act Display Title Ensuring Fair Access to Veterans Healthcare Act Official Title as Introduced To amend title 38, United States Code, to establish an Ombudsman within the Veterans Health Administration of the Department of Veterans Affairs. Introduced in House IH Short Titles as Introduced Ensuring Fair Access to Veterans Healthcare Act Introduced in House 2015-11-05T05:00:00Z https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-114hr3978ih/xml/BILLS-114hr3978ih.xml 2015-12-03 Referred to the Subcommittee on Health. text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain. Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress This file contains bill summaries and statuses for federal legislation. A bill summary describes the most significant provisions of a piece of legislation and details the effects the legislative text may have on current law and federal programs. Bill summaries are authored by the Congressional Research Service (CRS) of the Library of Congress. As stated in Public Law 91-510 (2 USC 166 (d)(6)), one of the duties of CRS is "to prepare summaries and digests of bills and resolutions of a public general nature introduced in the Senate or House of Representatives". For more information, refer to the User Guide that accompanies this file.