[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 78 (Tuesday, May 17, 2016)]
[Senate]
[Page S2897]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 3991. Mr. JOHNSON submitted an amendment intended to be proposed 
to amendment SA 3896 proposed by Ms. Collins (for herself, Mr. Kirk, 
Mr. Reed, and Mr. Tester) to the bill H.R. 2577, making appropriations 
for the Departments of Transportation, and Housing and Urban 
Development, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 
30, 2016, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the 
table; as follows:

       At the end of title II of division B, add the following:

     SEC. 251. PUBLICATION OF INFORMATION ON PROVISION OF HEALTH 
                   CARE BY DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

       (a) Publication of Information.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, and every 180 days thereafter, the 
     Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall publish on an Internet 
     database of the Department of Veterans Affairs available to 
     the public information on the provision of health care by the 
     Department.
       (2) Elements.--
       (A) In general.--Each publication required by paragraph (1) 
     shall include, with respect to each medical facility of the 
     Department during the 180-day period preceding such 
     publication, the following:
       (i) The average length of stay for inpatient care.
       (ii) A description of any hospital-acquired condition 
     acquired by a patient.
       (iii) The rate of readmission of patients within 30 days of 
     release.
       (iv) The rate at which opioids are prescribed to each 
     patient.
       (v) The average wait time for emergency room treatment.
       (vi) A description of any scheduling backlog with respect 
     to patient appointments.
       (vii) The average number of patients seen per month by each 
     primary care physician.
       (B) Additional elements.--The Secretary may include in each 
     publication required by paragraph (1) such additional 
     information on the safety of medical facilities of the 
     Department, health outcomes at such facilities, and quality 
     of care at such facilities as the Secretary considers 
     appropriate.
       (3) Searchability.--The Secretary shall ensure that the 
     Internet database required by paragraph (1) is searchable by 
     State, city, and facility.
       (4) Personal information.--The Secretary shall ensure that 
     personal information connected to information published under 
     paragraph (1) is protected from disclosure as required by 
     applicable law.
       (b) Comptroller General Report.--Not later than 180 days 
     after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller 
     General of the United States shall submit to Congress a 
     report setting forth recommendations for additional elements 
     to be included with the information published under 
     subsection (a) to improve the evaluation and assessment of 
     the safety and health of individuals receiving health care 
     under the laws administered by the Secretary and the quality 
     of health care received by such individuals.
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