[United States Statutes at Large, Volume 131, 115th Congress, 1st Session]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


Public Law 115-95
115th Congress

An Act


 
To authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to enter into contracts
with nonprofit organizations to investigate medical centers of the
Department of Veterans Affairs. <>

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 ``Enhancing Veteran Care Act''.
SEC. 2. <>  INVESTIGATION OF MEDICAL
CENTERS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

(a) <>  In General.--The Secretary of
Veterans Affairs may contract with a nonprofit organization that
accredits health care organizations and programs in the United States to
investigate a medical center of the Department of Veterans Affairs to
assess and report deficiencies of the facilities at such medical center.

(b) Authority of Directors.--
(1) In general.--Subject to coordination under paragraph
(2), the Secretary shall delegate the authority under subsection
(a) to contract for an investigation at a medical center of the
Department to the Director of the Veterans Integrated Service
Network in which the medical center is located or the director
of such medical center.
(2) <>  Coordination.--Before entering
into a contract under paragraph (1), the Director of a Veterans
Integrated Service Network or the director of a medical center,
as the case may be, shall notify the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs, the Inspector General of the Department of Veterans
Affairs, and the Comptroller General of the United States for
purposes of coordinating any investigation conducted pursuant to
such contract with any other investigations that may be ongoing.

(c) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this section may be
construed--
(1) to prevent the Office of the Inspector General of the
Department of Veterans Affairs from conducting any review,
audit, evaluation, or inspection regarding a topic for which an
investigation is conducted under this section; or
(2) to modify the requirement that employees of the
Department assist with any review, audit, evaluation, or
inspection

[[Page 2043]]

conducted by the Office of the Inspector General of the
Department.

Approved December 20, 2017.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--S. 1266:
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CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 163 (2017):
Nov. 9, considered and passed Senate.
Dec. 5, 6, considered and passed House.