,,ii #aagth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #cjjd ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,october #ai1 #bjba,mr4 ,warnock introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,veterans' ,affairs ,a ,,bill ,to amend title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 to establish new requirements for ,state homes for veterans that receive per diem from the ,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,improving ,care for ,veterans ,act4 #b4 ,requirement that ,state homes for veterans have governing bodies and administrators and payments to assist ,state homes in hiring infection preventionists 7a7 ,governing bodies and administrators 7#a7 ,in general ,subchapter ,v of chapter #ag of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended by inserting after section #agda the following new section3 #agda;,a4 ,administration requirements ,as a condition on the receipt of per diem payments under this subchapter1 a ,state home shall-- 7#a7 have a governing body that-- 7,a7 is legally responsible for establishing and implementing policies regarding the management and operation of the ,state home2 7,b7 consists of more than one person2 and 7,c7 appoints an administrator or deputy superintendent described in paragraph 7#b72 7#b7 employ an administrator or deputy superintendent who-- 7,a7 is licensed by the ,state1 if required by ,state law2 and 7,b7 meets standards established by the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services under sections #ahai7;f77#d7 and #aiai7;f77#d7 of the ,social ,security ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #acie;i-#c7;f77#d71 #acifr7f77#d772 7#c7 employ an infection preventionist 7as that term is defined in section #agdd;,a of this title72 and 7#d7 include in information submitted each year to the ,secretary-- 7,a7 the name of the infection preventionist employed under paragraph 7#c72 and 7,b7 an emergency plan1 updated annually1 in case of a public health emergency or other disaster4 4 7#b7 ,clerical amendment ,the table of sections at the beginning of such subchapter is amended by inserting after the item relating to section #agda the following new item3 #agda;,a4 ,administration requirements4 4 7b7 ,funding of infection preventionists 7#a7 ,establishment ,such subchapter is further amended by inserting after section #agdd the following new section3 #agdd;,a4 ,hiring and retention of infection preventionists3 payments to assist ,states 7a7 ,payment program ,the ,secretary shall make payments to ,states under this section for the purpose of assisting ,state homes in the hiring and retention of infection preventionists4 7b7 ,eligible recipients ,payments to a ,state for a fiscal year under this section shall1 subject to submission of an application1 be made to any ,state that during that fiscal year receives per diem payments under this subchapter for that fiscal year4 7c7 ,limitations on amount of payment ,a payment under this section may not be used to provide more than #ej percent of the salary or wages for an infection preventionist for a fiscal year4 7d7 ,applications 7#a7 ,a payment under this section for any fiscal year with respect to any ,state home may only be made based upon an application submitted by the ,state seeking such payment with respect to that ,state home4 7#b7 ,each application under paragraph 7#a7 shall describe the salary or wages of the infection preventionist4 7e7 ,source of funds ,payments under this section shall be made from funds available for other payments under this subchapter4 7f7 ,disbursement ,payments under this section to a ,state home shall be made as part of the disbursement of payments under section #agda of this title with respect to that ,state home4 7g7 ,use of certain receipts ,the ,secretary shall require as a condition of any payment under this section that1 in any case in which the ,state home receives a refund payment made by an employee in breach of the terms of an agreement for employee assistance that used funds provided under this section1 the payment shall be returned to the incentive program account for the ,state home and credited as a non-,federal funding source4 7h7 ,annual report 7#a7 ,any ,state home receiving a payment under this section for any fiscal year1 shall1 as a condition of the payment1 be required to agree to provide to the ,secretary a report setting forth in detail the use of funds received through the payment4 7#b7 7,a7 ,each report under paragraph 7#a7 for a fiscal year shall be provided to the ,secretary not later than #fj days after the end of the fiscal year and shall be subject to audit by the ,secretary4 7,b7 ,eligibility for payment under this section for any fiscal year is contingent upon the receipt by the ,secretary of the annual report under this subsection for the previous fiscal year in accordance with this subsection4 7i7 ,regulations 7#a7 ,the ,secretary shall prescribe regulations to carry out this section4 7#b7 ,regulations required under paragraph 7#a7 shall include the establishment of criteria for the award of payments under this section4 7j7 ,infection preventionist defined ,in this section1 the term infection preventionist1 with respect to a ,state home1 means an individual-- 7#a7 who has primary professional training in nursing1 medical technology1 microbiology1 epidemiology1 or a related field2 7#b7 whom the ,secretary determines is qualified by education1 training1 experience1 or certification2 7#c7 who works at least part-time at the ,state home2 and 7#d7 who has completed specialized training in infection prevention and control4 4 7#b7 ,clerical amendment ,the table of sections at the beginning of such subchapter is amended by inserting after the item relating to section #agdd the following new item3 #agdd;,a4 ,hiring and retention of infection preventionists3 payments to assist ,states4 4