118 HR 9426 IH: Safeguarding VA’s Healthcare Workforce Act U.S. House of Representatives 2024-08-30 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.

I118th CONGRESS2d SessionH. R. 9426IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESAugust 30, 2024Mr. Bost introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' AffairsA BILLTo direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot program under which the Secretary may fill vacant shifts at medical facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs with non-Department health care providers.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Safeguarding VA’s Healthcare Workforce Act.

2.

Pilot program to fill vacant shifts at medical facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs with non-Department health care providers

(a)

Establishment

Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall carry out a pilot program under which the Secretary may fill a vacant shift at a medical facility of the Department of Veterans Affairs with a non-Department health care provider.(b)

Agreements; payments

To carry out the pilot program, the Secretary shall seek to enter into at least one agreement with an entity that employs or contracts with health care providers. Pursuant to such an agreement, the Secretary shall pay the entity a fixed rate for each shift filled by such entity under the pilot program.(c)

Limitation

The Secretary may not, under the pilot program, fill a vacant shift at a medical facility of the Department with a non-Department health care provider unless the number of vacant shifts at such facility reaches a minimum number or percentage prescribed by the Secretary.(d)

Locations

The Secretary shall carry out the pilot program in medical facilities of not more than two Veterans Integrated Services Networks. In selecting a facility for the pilot program, the Secretary shall give preference to a facility—(1)located in a rural area; or(2)that historically has a high rate of vacant shifts.(e)

Privacy

To protect the privacy of a veteran who receives hospital care or medical services under the pilot program, the Secretary shall restrict the access, to medical records of the Department, of a provider who fills a vacant shift under the pilot program, to only such records of a veteran to whom such provider provides hospital care or medical services.(f)

Reports

(1)

Requirement

The Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives a report on the pilot program not later than—(A)21 months after the date on which the Secretary begins to carry out the pilot program; and(B)90 days after the date on which the pilot program terminates.(2)

Elements

Each such report shall include the following elements:(A)How frequently the Secretary filled a vacant shift under the pilot program.(B)The medical specialties relating to vacant shifts that were most frequently filled under the pilot program.(C)The number of veterans who received hospital care or medical services under the pilot program.(g)

Termination

The pilot program shall terminate three years after the date on which the Secretary begins to carry out the pilot program.