,i  #aad? ,,congress  #a/ ,session  ,h4 
,r4 #cbcd  ,,9 ,,! ,,h\se ,,(           
,,repres5tatives  ,july #bh1 #bjae ,mrs4
 ,roby introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2 :i* 0   
ref]r$ to ! ,committee on ,vet]ans'     
,affairs  ,a ,,bill  ,to am5d title #ch1
 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 to e/abli% )9 !   
,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs an ,(fice 
( ,fail+ ,m$ical ,c5t] ,recov]y1 & = o!r
 purposes4  #a4 ,%ort title ,?is ,act   
may be cit$ z ! ,fail+ ,,va ,m$ical     
,c5t] ,recov]y ,act4  #b4 ,e/abli%m5t ( 
an ,(fice ( ,fail+ ,m$ical ,c5t]        
,recov]y  7a7 ,e/abli%m5t  7#a7 ,9 g5]al
 ,*apt] #c ( title #ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates   
,code1 is am5d$ by add+ at ! end !      
foll[+ new section3  #cbc4 ,(fice (     
,fail+ ,m$ical ,c5t] ,recov]y  7a7      
,e/abli%m5t  7#a7 ,!re is 9 ! ,dep>tm5t 
an ,(fice ( ,fail+ ,m$ical ,c5t]        
,recov]y 79 ?is section ref]r$ to z !   
,(fice74 ,! head ( ! ,(fice is ! ,"u    
,secret>y = ,fail+ ,m$ical ,c5t]        
,recov]y4  7#b7 ,! purpose ( ! ,(fice is
 to c>ry out ! manag]ial & day-to-day   

op]ational control ( ea* m$ical c5t] ( !
 ,dep>tm5t t ! ,secret>y c]tifies z a   
fail+ m$ical c5t] "u subsection 7b77#b74
  7b7 ,det]m9ation ( fail+ m$ical c5t]  
7#a7 ,n lat] ?an #ae days aft] ! end (  
ea* fiscal qu>t]1 ! ,secret>y %all      
publi% 9 ! ,f$]al ,regi/] & on a        
publically available1 se>*able ,int]net 
website ( ! ,dep>tm5t a compilation (   
key heal? metrics = ea* m$ical c5t] ( ! 
,dep>tm5t4  7#b7 ,on a semiannual basis1
 ! ,secret>y %all c]tify t ea* m$ical   
c5t] ( ! ,dep>tm5t t is rank$ z fail+ "u
 ! key heal? metrics is a fail+ m$ical  
c5t] & is subject to ! manag]ial &      
day-to-day op]ational control by !      
,(fice pursuant to ?is section4  7#c7 ,!
 ,secret>y %all revoke ! c]tification ( 
a m$ical c5t] ( ! ,dep>tm5t z a fail+   
m$ical c5t] "u p>agraph 7#b7 if ! m$ical
 c5t] a*ieves a rank+ ( satisfactory or 
bett] "u ! key heal? metrics = ?ree     
consecutive fiscal qu>t]s4  7#d7 ,!     
,secret>y %all submit to ! ,presid5t &  
,congress ea* c]tification made "u      

p>agraph 7#b74  7#e7 ,on a qu>t]ly      
basis1 ! ,secret>y %all submit to       
,congress a report on ! ,(fice1 includ+ 
! actions tak5 by ! ,"u ,secret>y )     
respect to cov]$ fail+ m$ical c5t]s4    
7c7 ,functions  7#a7  7,a7 ,! ,secret>y 
%all transf] ea* cov]$ fail+ m$ical c5t]
 f ! direct control ( ! relevant        
,vet]ans ,integrat$ ,s]vice ,network to 
! direct control ( ! ,"u ,secret>y4     
7,b7 ,! ,"u ,secret>y1 act+ ?r\gh !     
,(fice1 %all assume responsibility = &  
c>ry out ! manag]ial & day-to-day       
op]ational control ( ea* cov]$ fail+    
m$ical c5t]4  7,c7 ,9 c>ry+ out         
subp>agraph 7,b71 ! ,"u ,secret>y %all--
 7i7 h ! duties1 responsibilities1 &    
au?ority = ! cov]$ fail+ m$ical c5t] t !
 director ( ! fail+ m$ical c5t] _h z ( !
 day be=e ! date ( ! c]tification "u    
subsection 7b77#b72  7ii7 op]ate ! cov]$
 fail+ m$ical c5t] indep5d5tly f !      
relevant ,vet]ans ,integrat$ ,s]vice    
,network2 &  7iii7 reta9 ! use ( all    
res\rces & s]vices t w\ld o!rwise be    

made available to ! cov]$ fail+ m$ical  
c5t] by ! ,vet]ans ,integrat$ ,s]vice   
,network4  7#b7  7,a7 ,^u a c]tification
 ( ! ,secret>y "u subsection 7b77#b7 )  
respect to a cov]$ fail+ m$ical c5t]1 ! 
,"u ,secret>y %all deploy a rapid       
deploym5t team to ! cov]$ fail+ m$ical  
c5t] to c>ry out ?is subsection to      
ensure t ! cov]$ fail+ m$ical c5t]      
a*ieves satisfactory p]=mance z quickly 
z practicable4  7,b7 ,ea* rapid         
deploym5t team describ$ 9 subp>agraph   
7,a7 %all report directly to ! ,"u      
,secret>y & consi/ ( p]sonnel ) exp]i5ce
 9 ! foll[+3  7i7 ,bus9ess adm9i/ration4
  7ii7 ,human res\rces4  7iii7          
,congressional relations4  7iv7 ,acute  
m$ical c>e4  7v7 ,non-,dep>tm5t heal?   
c>e4  7vi7 ,o!r pr(essional exp]i5ce !  
,"u ,secret>y det]m9es appropriate4     
7#c7  7,a7 ,! ,"u ,secret>y %all h !    
au?ority to c>ry out adv]se actions1    
includ+ transf]s or reassignm5ts1       
pursuant to ?is title or title #e t are 
applicable to any employee ( a cov]$    

fail+ m$ical c5t]1 includ+ ! director & 
s5ior executives4  7,b7 ,! ,"u ,secret>y
 may deem an employee ( a cov]$ fail+   
m$ical c5t] :o is n o!rwise cov]$ by    
section #gac ( ?is title to be an       
individual cov]$ by su* section =       
purposes ( remov+ su* individual f !    
civil s]vice 7z def9$ 9 section #baja ( 
title #e74  7#d7  7,a7 ,! ,"u ,secret>y 
may hire individuals z employees ( !    
,vet]ans ,heal? ,adm9i/ration at cov]$  
fail+ m$ical c5t]s 9 positions t ! ,"u  
,secret>y det]m9es are ess5tial to      
improv+ pati5t c>e4  7,b7 ,not)/&+ any  
o!r provision ( law1 9 c>ry+ out        
subp>agraph 7,a71 ! ,"u ,secret>y may-- 
7i7 hire employees us+ ! direct-hire    
au?ority "u section #ccjd7;a77#c7 (     
title #e2 &  7ii7 pay su* employees at a
 prevail+ rate t is #abe p]c5t ( ! rate 
= su* position4  7d7 ,adm9i/rative      
matt]s  7#a7 ,! ,"u ,secret>y %all      
ensure t ! ,(fice consi/s ( ! foll[+    
p]sonnel1 includ+ p]sonnel ( ! rapid    
deploym5t teams "u subsection 7c77#b71 9

 a numb] ! ,"u ,secret>y det]m9es       
appropriate3  7,a7 ,s5ior pr(essional   
/aff :o h exp]i5ce-- 7i7 9 ! op]ational 
dep>tm5ts ( m$ical c5t]s ( ! ,dep>tm5t2 
&  7ii7 necess>y to effectively run a   
m$ical c5t]4  7,b7 ,support /aff4  7#b7 
7,a7 ,not)/&+ any o!r provision ( law1 9
 c>ry+ out p>agraph 7#a71 ! ,"u         
,secret>y may-- 7i7 hire employees us+ !
 direct-hire au?ority "u section        
#ccjd7;a77#c7 ( title #e2 &  7ii7 pay   
su* employees at a prevail+ rate t is   
#abe p]c5t ( ! rate = su* position4     
7,b7 ,! ,secret>y %all ensure t         
employees ( ! ,dep>tm5t :o s]ve two ye>s
 or m 9 ! ,(fice receive pref]5tial     
treatm5t = promotion & advancem5t )9 !  
,dep>tm5t4  7e7 ,contracts  7#a7 ,! ,"u 
,secret>y may use simplifi$ proc$ures to
 aw>d contracts = goods & s]vices t !   
,"u ,secret>y det]m9es ess5tial to      
improv+ pati5t c>e 9 cov]$ fail+ m$ical 
c5t]s4  7#b7  7,a7 ,! ,secret>y %all    
include 9 ! qu>t]ly publications "u     
subsection 7b77#a7 ! am\nts describ$ 9  

subp>agraph 7,b71 li/$ by specialty     
area4  7,b7 ,! am\nts describ$ 9 ?is    
subp>agraph are ! am\nts t ! ,secret>y--
 7i7 is obligat$ to pay to non-,dep>tm5t
 facilities 7z def9$ 9 section #agja (  
?is title7 t provide c>e to vet]ans "u a
 cov]$ fail+ m$ical c5t] pursuant to a  
contract ent]$ into by ! ,secret>y2 &   
7ii7 has n paid by ! date t is #ij days 
aft] ! date requir$ by *apt] #ci ( title
 #ca4  7f7 ,inve/igations & :i/lebl[]   
protections  7#a7 ,! ,inspector ,g5]al (
 ! ,dep>tm5t %all prioritize            
inve/igations relat+ to cov]$ fail+     
m$ical c5t]s4  7#b7 ,! ,(fice (         
,acc\ntability ,review %all prioritize  
inve/igations ( :i/lebl[] retaliation   
relat+ to cov]$ fail+ m$ical c5t]s4  7g7
 ,def9itions ,9 ?is section3 7#a7 ,! t]m
 cov]$ fail+ m$ical c5t] means a m$ical 
c5t] ( ! ,dep>tm5t t ! ,secret>y        
c]tifies z a fail+ m$ical c5t] pursuant 
to p>agraph 7#b7 ( su* subsection 7b7 & 
has n revok$ su* c]tification "u        
p>agraph 7#c7 ( su* subsection4  7#b7 ,!

 t]m key heal? metrics means ! foll[+3  
7,a7 ,! ,/rategic ,analytics ,improvem5t
 & ,le>n+ 7commonly ref]r$ to z ,,sail7 
data us$ by ! ,dep>tm5t 7or su*         
successor data metric74  7,b7 ,a rank+ =
 ea* m$ical c5t] ( ! ,dep>tm5t bas$ on !
 total data describ$ 9 subp>agraph 7,a7 
= ! specific m$ical c5t] :]eby--  7i7   
m$ical c5t]s 9 ! #ij? p]c5tile are rat$ 
z excell5t2  7ii7 m$ical c5t]s 9 ! #cj? 
to #hi? p]c5tiles are rat$ z            
satisfactory2  7iii7 m$ical c5t]s 9 !   
#d? to #bi? p]c5tiles are rat$ z poor2 &
  7iv7 m$ical c5t]s 9 ! #crd p]c5tile & 
bel[ are rat$ z fail+4  4  7#b7 ,cl]ical
 am5dm5t ,! table ( sections at ! beg9n+
 ( *apt] #c ( su* title is am5d$ by add+
 aft] ! item relat+ to section #cbb !   
foll[+ new item3  #cbc4 ,(fice ( ,fail+ 
,m$ical ,c5t] ,recov]y4  4  7#c7        
,initial key heal? metrics publication  
,! ,secret>y %all publi% ! initial key  
heal? metrics "u section #cbc7;b77#a7 ( 
title #ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 z add$  
by p>agraph 7#a71 by n lat] ?an #ij days

 aft] ! date ( ! enactm5t ( ?is ,act4   
7#d7 ,initial c]tifications ( a fail+   
m$ical c5t] ,! ,secret>y %all make !    
initial c]tifications "u section        
#cbc7;b77#b7 ( title #ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates 
,code1 z add$ by p>agraph 7#a71 by n    
lat] ?an #ij days aft] ! date ( !       
enactm5t ( ?is ,act4 ,su* c]tifications 
%all cov] n few] ?an two & n m ?an sev5 
m$ical c5t]s ( ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans   
,affairs4  7b7 ,"u ,secret>y  7#a7 ,9   
g5]al ,*apt] #c ( title #ch1 ,unit$     
,/ates ,code1 is fur!r am5d$ by ins]t+  
aft] section #cje ! foll[+ new section3 
#cje;,a4 ,"u ,secret>y = ,fail+ ,m$ical 
,c5t] ,recov]y  7a7  7#a7 ,!re is 9 !   
,dep>tm5t an ,"u ,secret>y = ,fail+     
,m$ical ,c5t] ,recov]y 79 ?is section   
ref]r$ to z ! ,"u ,secret>y71 :o is     
appo9t$ by ! ,presid5t1 by & ) ! advice 
& cons5t ( ! ,s5ate4  7#b7 ,! ,"u       
,secret>y %all be appo9t$ )\t reg>d to  
political affiliation or activity &     
solely--  7,a7 on ! basis ( demon/rat$  
ability 9 ! m$ical pr(ession1 9         

heal?-c>e adm9i/ration & policy         
=mulation1 9 heal?-c>e fiscal managem5t1
 or 9 heal?-c>e op]ations2 &  7,b7 on ! 
basis ( sub/antial op]ational exp]i5ce 9
 connection ) ! programs ( ! ,vet]ans   
,heal? ,adm9i/ration or programs (      
simil> cont5t & scope4  7b7 ,! ,"u      
,secret>y is ! head (1 & is directly    
responsible to ! ,secret>y = ! op]ation 
(1 ! ,(fice ( ,fail+ ,m$ical ,c5t]      
,recov]y4  4  7#b7 ,cl]ical am5dm5t ,!  
table ( sections at ! beg9n+ ( *apt] #c 
( su* title is fur!r am5d$ by ins]t+    
aft] ! item relat+ to section #cje !    
foll[+ new item3  #cje;,a4 ,"u ,secret>y
 = ,fail+ ,m$ical ,c5t] ,recov]y4  4    
7c7 ,inclusion ( ,(fice 9 educational   
assi/ance program ,*apt] #gf ( title    
#ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 is am5d$--    
7#a7 by /rik+ ,vet]ans ,heal?           
,adm9i/ration ea* place x appe>s 7o!r   
?an section #gfbb7;b77#a77 & ins]t+     
,vet]ans ,heal? ,adm9i/ration or !      
,(fice ( ,fail+ ,m$ical ,c5t] ,recov]y2 
&  7#b7 by /rik+ section #gdja ( ?is    

title ea* place x appe>s & ins]t+       
section #gdja or section #cbc7;d7 ( ?is 
title4