[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3812 Introduced in House (IH)]






108th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 3812

      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 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           February 11, 2004

 Mr. Pomeroy introduced the following bill; which was 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 under subsection (a) during the two-year period 
beginning on October 1, 2004.
    (c) Locations of Project.--(1) The Secretary shall carry out the 
demonstration project under subsection (a) 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 demonstration 
project is carried out in an urban area, a rural area, and a highly 
rural area.
    (d) Project Requirements and Authorities.--(1) Except as provided 
in paragraphs (2) and (3), in carrying out the demonstration project 
under subsection (a) 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 veteran residing in a Veterans Integrated Service Network covered 
by the project, whether a new or current enrollee 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 those terms in 
section 1701 of title 38, United States Code.

SEC. 2. ANNUAL REPORT ON WAITING TIMES FOR APPOINTMENTS FOR CARE AND 
              SERVICES.

    (a) In General.--Not later than January 31 each year, the Secretary 
of Veterans Affairs 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.
    (b) Matters to Be Included.--Each report under subsection (a) shall 
specify, for the year covered by the report, the following:
            (1) 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, 
        displayed by particular Department facility and by Veterans 
        Integrated Service Network.
            (2) 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.
    (c) Report on Demonstration Project.--The report under subsection 
(a) for 2006 (to be submitted not later than January 31, 2007) shall 
include information on the demonstration project carried out under 
section 1. That information shall include--
            (1) a description of the conduct 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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