[Congressional Bills 114th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 739 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

114th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                 S. 739

To modify the treatment of agreements entered into by the Secretary of 
 Veterans Affairs to furnish nursing home care, adult day health care, 
        or other extended care services, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             March 16, 2015

Mr. Hoeven (for himself and Mr. Manchin) introduced the following bill; 
which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To modify the treatment of agreements entered into by the Secretary of 
 Veterans Affairs to furnish nursing home care, adult day health care, 
        or other extended care services, 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. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Veterans Access to Extended Care Act 
of 2015''.

SEC. 2. TREATMENT OF AGREEMENTS FOR NURSING HOME CARE, ADULT DAY HEALTH 
              CARE, OR OTHER EXTENDED CARE SERVICES FROM DEPARTMENT OF 
              VETERANS AFFAIRS.

    (a) In General.--Subparagraph (B) of section 1720(c)(1) of title 
38, United States Code, is amended by adding after the period at the 
end the following: ``Any such agreement shall not be treated as a 
Federal contract for the acquisition of goods or services and is not 
subject to any provision of law governing Federal contracts for the 
acquisition of goods or services. Title 41 shall not apply to any such 
agreement.''.
    (b) Requirements.--Such section is amended by adding at the end the 
following new subparagraphs:
    ``(C) Any agreement entered into under subparagraph (A) with a 
provider described in that subparagraph shall include provisions that 
are necessary to ensure the safety and quality of care furnished to 
veterans pursuant to such agreement, including the following:
            ``(i) Requirements as to the licensing and credentialing of 
        medical professionals of the provider, as applicable.
            ``(ii) Review by the Department of medical records of the 
        provider.
            ``(iii) Visits by employees of the Department to assess 
        facilities and practices of the provider on an unannounced 
        basis.
            ``(iv) Review by the Department of staffing levels for 
        medical professionals and support personnel of the provider.
            ``(v) Such other provisions as the Secretary considers 
        necessary to ensure the safety and quality of care furnished to 
        veterans.
    ``(D) The failure of a provider with which the Secretary has 
entered into an agreement under subparagraph (A) to comply with a 
provision of such agreement described in subparagraph (C) may result in 
the termination of such agreement by the Department.''.

SEC. 3. EXEMPTION OF AGREEMENTS ENTERED INTO BY SECRETARY OF VETERANS 
              AFFAIRS FOR NURSING HOME CARE, ADULT DAY HEALTH CARE, OR 
              OTHER EXTENDED CARE SERVICES FROM THE APPLICATION OF 
              CERTAIN LABOR LAWS.

    Section 6702(b) of title 41, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (6), by striking ``; and'' and inserting a 
        semicolon;
            (2) in paragraph (7), by striking the period at the end and 
        inserting ``; and''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(8) an agreement to furnish nursing home care, adult day 
        health care, or other extended care services under section 1720 
        of title 38.''.
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