[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 89 (Thursday, June 4, 2015)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3801-S3802]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 1674. Mr. WARNER submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to 
amendment SA 1463 proposed by Mr. McCain to the bill H.R. 1735, to 
authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2016 for military activities 
of the Department of Defense and for military construction, to 
prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for 
other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       At the end of subtitle B of title VII, add the following:

     SEC. 721. PILOT PROGRAM ON SHARING OF PHYSICIAN WORKFORCE 
                   AMONG DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE AND DEPARTMENT OF 
                   VETERANS AFFAIRS.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary of Defense and the Secretary 
     of Veterans Affairs shall jointly conduct a pilot program to 
     assess the feasibility and advisability of allowing medical 
     facilities of the Department of Defense and medical 
     facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs that are 
     located within 40 miles of each other to share primary care 
     physicians for the purpose of performing routine medical 
     care.

[[Page S3802]]

       (b) Administrative Actions Necessary.--In carrying out the 
     pilot program, the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of 
     Veterans Affairs shall jointly determine the administrative 
     action required to be taken by each Secretary--
       (1) to ensure the sharing of scheduling records and medical 
     records between the Department of Defense and the Department 
     of Veterans Affairs;
       (2) to minimize the impact of the pilot program on wait 
     times and patient load at each medical facility participating 
     in the pilot program; and
       (3) to maintain a high quality of care at each such medical 
     facility.
       (c) Location of Care.--To the maximum extent possible, 
     health care provided to a patient under the pilot program 
     shall be provided at the location in which the patient would 
     have been provided health care if the pilot program was not 
     being carried out.
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