    [United States Statutes at Large, Volume 134, 116th Congress, 2nd Session]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    Public Law 116-177
    116th Congress

    An Act

    To direct the Comptroller General of the United States to conduct an
    assessment of all memoranda of understanding and memoranda of agreement
    between Under Secretary of Health and non-Department of Veterans Affairs
    entities relating to suicide prevention and mental health
    services. <>

    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' Care Quality Transparency
    Act''.
    SEC. 2. COMPTROLLER GENERAL ASSESSMENT OF MEMORANDA OF
    UNDERSTANDING AND MEMORANDA OF AGREEMENT
    BETWEEN UNDER SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND NON-
    DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS ENTITIES
    RELATING TO SUICIDE PREVENTION AND MENTAL
    HEALTH SERVICES.

    (a) <>  Assessment.--Not later than 270 days after
    the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the
    United States shall conduct an assessment of the effectiveness of all
    memoranda of understanding and memoranda of agreement entered into by
    the Under Secretary of Veterans Affairs for Health and a non-Department
    of Veterans Affairs entity relating to--
    (1) suicide prevention activities and outreach; and
    (2) <>  the provision or coordination of
    mental health services during the 5-year period preceding the
    date of the enactment of this Act.

    (b) Contents of Assessment.--The assessment required by subsection
    (a) shall include an assessment of--
    (1) the size of the catchment area of each such entity;
    (2) the staffing structures of such entities;
    (3) any accreditation or licensure any such entity has
    obtained in relation to the services the entity provides;
    (4) any variances in the subpopulations of veterans served
    by such entities;
    (5) any limitations any such entity may face in carrying out
    its obligations under the memorandum of understanding or
    memorandum of agreement;
    (6) the extent to which the Under Secretary provides
    oversight and tracks outcomes of such entities;
    (7) any variations in the structure or requirements of the
    memoranda of understanding and memoranda of agreement;
    (8) a breakdown of the percentage of such entities that
    serve--
    (A) women veterans;

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    (B) minority veterans;
    (C) veterans who are over the age of 55;
    (D) veterans between the ages of 18 and 34;
    (E) veterans who reside in United States insular
    areas; and
    (F) veterans' families; and
    (9) <>  any measures taken to ensure
    the secure exchange of data and information between such
    entities and the Department of Veterans Affairs.

    (c) Report to Congress.--Not later than 270 days after the
    completion of the assessment under subsection (a), the Comptroller
    General shall submit to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the
    Senate and House of Representatives a report on the results of the
    assessment.

    Approved October 20, 2020.

    LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--H.R. 2372:
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    HOUSE REPORTS: No. 116-72 (Comm. on Veterans' Affairs).
    CONGRESSIONAL RECORD:
    Vol. 165 (2019):
    May 21, considered and passed House.
    Vol. 166 (2020):
    Sept. 24, considered and passed
    Senate.