1.Injured
and Amputee Veterans Bill of Rights
(a)The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall
ensure that the Injured and Amputee Veterans Bill of Rights described in
subsection (d) is printed on signage in accessible formats and displayed
prominently and conspicuously in each prosthetics and orthotics clinic of the
Department of Veterans Affairs.
(b)Education of
Department employeesThe
Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall ensure that employees of the Department of
Veterans Affairs who work at prosthetics and orthotics clinics and who work as
patient advocates with veterans who receive care at such clinics, including
Federal recovery coordinators and case managers, receive training on the
Injured and Amputee Veterans Bill of Rights described in subsection (d).
(c)The Secretary of
Veterans Affairs shall conduct outreach to inform veterans about the Injured
and Amputee Veterans Bill of Rights described in subsection (d) by—
(1)ensuring that such Bill of Rights is
available on the Internet Web site of the Department of Veterans Affairs;
and
(2)conducting other
types of outreach targeted at specific groups of veterans, which may include
outreach conducted on other Internet Web sites or through veterans service
organizations.
(d)Injured and
Amputee Veterans Bill of RightsThe Injured and Amputee Veterans Bill of
Rights described in this subsection is a statement that injured and amputee
veterans should have, at a minimum, the following rights:
(1)The right to
access the highest quality prosthetic and orthotic care, including the right to
the most appropriate technology and best qualified practitioners.
(2)The right to
continuity of care in the transition from the Department of Defense health
program to the Department of Veterans Affairs health care system, including
comparable benefits relating to prosthetic and orthotic services.
(3)The right to
select the practitioner that best meets their orthotic and prosthetic needs,
whether or not that practitioner is an employee of the Department of Veterans
Affairs, a private practitioner who has entered into a contract with the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide prosthetic and orthotic services, or a
private practitioner with specialized expertise.
(4)The right to
consistent and portable health care, including the right to obtain comparable
services and technology at any medical facility of the Department of Veterans
Affairs across the country.
(5)The right to
timely and efficient prosthetic and orthotic care, including a speedy
authorization process with expedited authorization available for veterans
visiting from another area of the country.
(6)The right to play
a meaningful role in rehabilitation decisions, including the right to receive a
second opinion regarding prosthetic and orthotic treatment options.
(7)The right to
receive appropriate treatment, including the right to receive both a primary
prosthesis or orthosis and a functional spare.
(8)The right to be
treated with respect and dignity and have an optimal quality of life both
during and after rehabilitation.
(9)The right to
transition and readjust to civilian life in an honorable manner, including by
having ample access to vocational rehabilitation, employment programs, and
housing assistance.
(e)Monitoring and
resolution of complaints
(1)The Secretary of Veterans Affairs, acting through the
veteran liaison at each medical center of the Department of Veterans Affairs,
shall collect information relating to the alleged mistreatment of injured and
amputee veterans.
(2)For each fiscal quarter, the veteran liaison at each
medical center of the Department shall submit to the Chief Consultant of
Prosthetics and Sensory Aids of the Department a report on any information
collected under paragraph (1) during that quarter.
(3)Investigation
and addressing of complaintsThe Chief Consultant, in cooperation
with appropriate employees of a medical center of the Department, shall
investigate and address any information collected under paragraph (1) at that
medical center.