,,ii  #aac? ,,congress  #a/ ,session    
,s4 #aehi  ,,9 ,,! ,,s5ate ,,( ,,!      
,,unit$ ,,/ates  ,octob] #bh1 #bjac,mr4 
,burr introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2 :i* 0    
read twice & ref]r$ to ! ,committee on  
,vet]ans' ,affairs  ,a ,,bill  ,to am5d 
title #ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 to      
require ! ,secret>y ( ,vet]ans ,affairs 
to ensure ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans        
,affairs has an up-to-date policy on    
report+ ( cases ( infecti\s diseases1 to
 require an indep5d5t assessm5t ( !     
,vet]ans ,integrat$ ,s]vice ,networks & 
m$ical c5t]s ( ! ,dep>tm5t1 & = o!r     
purposes4  #a4 ,%ort title ,?is ,act may
 be cit$ z ! ,improv+ ,quality ( ,c>e   
,)9 ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs ,act
 ( #bjac4  #b4 ,requirem5t = ,dep>tm5t (
 ,vet]ans ,affairs policy on report+    
cases ( infecti\s diseases at facilities
 ( ! ,dep>tm5t  7a7 ,9 g5]al ,sub*apt]  
,,ii ( *apt] #gc ( title #ch1 ,unit$    
,/ates ,code1 is am5d$ by add+ at ! end 
! foll[+ new section3  #gccj;,b4        
,report+ ( infecti\s diseases  7a7      

,report+ ,! ,secret>y %all ensure t !   
,dep>tm5t has 9 effect an up-to-date    
policy on report+ a notifiable infecti\s
 disease diagnos$ at a facility "u !    
jurisdiction ( ! ,secret>y 9 accordance 
) ! provisions ( ,/ate & local law 9    
effect :]e su* facility is locat$4  7b7 
,notifiable infecti\s disease ,=        
purposes ( ?is section1 a notifiable    
infecti\s disease is any infecti\s      
disease t is-- 7#a7 on ! li/ (          
nationally notifiable diseases publi%$  
by ! ,c\ncil ( ,/ate & ,t]ritorial      
,epidemiologi/s & ! ,c5t]s = ,disease   
,control & ,prev5tion2 or  7#b7 cov]$ by
 a provision ( law ( a ,/ate t requires 
! report+ ( infecti\s diseases4  7c7    
,p]=mance measures ,! ,secret>y %all    
develop p]=mance measures to assess :e!r
 & to :at degree ! directors ( ,vet]ans 
,integrat$ ,s]vice ,networks & ,dep>tm5t
 m$ical c5t]s are comply+ ) ! policy    
requir$ by subsection 7a74  4  7b7      
,cl]ical am5dm5t ,! table ( sections at 
! beg9n+ ( *apt] #gc ( su* title is     

am5d$ by ins]t+ aft] ! item relat+ to   
section #gccj;,a ! foll[+ new item3     
#gccj;,b4 ,report+ ( infecti\s diseases4
  4  #c4 ,indep5d5t assessm5t ( !       
,vet]ans ,integrat$ ,s]vice ,networks & 
m$ical c5t]s ( ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans     
,affairs  7a7 ,contract  7#a7 ,9 g5]al  
,! ,secret>y ( ,vet]ans ,affairs %all   
seek to ent] into a contract ) an       
indep5d5t ?ird-p>ty to p]=m ! s]vices   
cov]$ by ?is section4  7#b7 ,tim+ ,!    
,secret>y %all seek to ent] into !      
contract describ$ 9 p>agraph 7#a7 n lat]
 ?an #bgj days aft] ! date ( ! enactm5t 
( ?is ,act4  7b7 ,indep5d5t /udy  7#a7  
,9 g5]al ,"u a contract betwe5 !        
,secret>y & an indep5d5t ?ird-p>ty "u   
?is section1 ! ?ird p>ty %all c>ry out a
 /udy-- 7,a7 to assess ! organizational 
/ructures ( m$ical c5t]s ( ! ,dep>tm5t (
 ,vet]ans ,affairs2 &  7,b7 to improve  
succession plann+ among key lead]%ip    
roles at ,vet]ans ,integrat$ ,s]vice    
,networks & m$ical c5t]s ( ! ,dep>tm5t4 
7#b7 ,matt]s /udi$ & propos$ ,9 c>ry+   

out ! /udy1 ! ?ird p>ty %all-- 7,a7     
assess :e!r organizational /ructure ( ! 
m$ical c5t]s ( ! ,dep>tm5t is effective 
= ! furni%+ ( m$ical s]vices1 address+  
issues t arise reg>d+ ! furni%+ ( m$ical
 s]vices1 & address+ /&>d bus9ess       
op]ations2  7,b7 propose "o             
organizational *>t = ,dep>tm5t m$ical   
c5t]s ) a common set ( base position    
descriptions2  7,c7 propose a base set (
 m$ical positions t %\ld be fill$ to    
ensure t ! heal? c>e provid$ to vet]ans 
by ! ,dep>tm5t is ( good quality2 &     
7,d7 id5tify :i* key lead]%ip positions 
at ,vet]ans ,integrat$ ,s]vice ,networks
 & ,dep>tm5t m$ical c5t]s %\ld h        
succession plans & propose h[ to        
implem5t su* plans4  7c7 ,report ,n lat]
 ?an #ij days aft] ! date on :i* ! ?ird 
p>ty completes ! /udy "u ?is section1 ! 
,secret>y %all submit to ! ,committee on
 ,vet]ans' ,affairs ( ! ,s5ate & !      
,committee on ,vet]ans' ,affairs ( !    
,h\se ( ,repres5tatives a report on !   
results ( su* /udy4