S. 2316 — Introduced in Senate

II 113th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 2316 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 12, 2014 Mr. Thune introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs A BILL To require the Inspector General of the Department of Veterans Affairs to submit a report on wait times for veterans seeking medical appointments and treatment from the Department of Veterans Affairs, to prohibit closure of medical facilities of the Department, and for other purposes. 1. Report on wait times for veterans seeking medical appointments and treatment from the Department of Veterans Affairs and prohibition on closure of medical facilities (a) Report (1) In general Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Inspector General of the Department of Veterans Affairs shall submit to Congress a report on wait times for veterans seeking medical appointments and treatment from the Department of Veterans Affairs. (2) Elements The report required by paragraph (1) shall include the following: (A) Information on wait times for veterans throughout the United States in seeking medical appointments and treatment from the Department. (B) A determination by the Inspector General as to whether the wait times for veterans seeking medical appointments and treatment from the Department have been prolonged by employees of the Department without a valid medical or administrative reason. (b) Prohibition on closure of medical facilities of the Department After the date of the enactment of this Act, and before the submittal of the report under subsection (a), the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall not— (1) close any medical facility of the Department of Veterans Affairs; or (2) use any funds of the Department to prepare any environment impact statement that is related to the closure of a medical facility of the Department. (c) Prolonged wait times without valid reason (1) Prohibition on closure of medical facilities of the Department Except as provided in paragraphs (2) and (3), if, in the report submitted under subsection (a), the Inspector General determines that wait times for veterans seeking medical appointments and treatment from the Department have been prolonged by employees of the Department without a valid medical or administrative reason, the Secretary shall not close any medical facility of the Department or use any funds of the Department to prepare any environment impact statement that is related to the closure of a medical facility of the Department. (2) Exception The Secretary may close a medical facility of the Department or use funds of the Department to prepare an environmental impact statement related to the closure of a medical facility of the Department if, not later than 180 days before such closure or use of funds, the Secretary determines and certifies to Congress that the closure of such medical facility will not do any of the following: (A) Increase the wait times for veterans in the catchment area of such medical facility in seeking medical appointments and treatment from such medical facility. (B) Decrease the quality of care provided to such veterans. (C) Impede the access of such veterans to specialized health care services. (D) Impede the access of such veterans to residential rehabilitation treatment programs of the Department and other inpatient care. (E) Increase the distance required to be traveled by such veterans to receive inpatient and outpatient care. (F) Impede the access of such veterans that are members of Indian tribes (as that term is defined in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 450b)) to medical care. (3) Termination The prohibition under paragraph (1) shall terminate on the date on which the Inspector General determines and certifies to Congress that wait times for veterans seeking medical appointments and treatment from the Department are not being prolonged by employees of the Department without a valid medical or administrative reason. (d) Environmental impact statement defined In this section, the term environmental impact statement means the detailed statement of environmental impacts of a project required to be prepared pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.).