S. 449 — Introduced in Senate

II 118th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 449 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES February 15, 2023Ms. Stabenow introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs A BILL To amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the assignment of patient advocates at medical facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Veterans Patient Advocacy Act. 2. Patient advocates at medical facilities of Department of Veterans Affairs (a) In general Section 7309A of title 38, United States Code, is amended— (1) by redesignating subsections (e) and (f) as subsections (f) and (g), respectively; and (2) by inserting after subsection (d) the following new subsection (e): (e) Number of patient advocates Beginning on the date that is one year after the date of the enactment of the Veterans Patient Advocacy Act, the Director shall ensure that— (1) there is not fewer than one patient advocate for every 13,500 veterans enrolled in the system of annual patient enrollment of the Department established and operated under section 1705(a) of this title; and (2) highly rural veterans may access the services of patient advocates, including, to the extent practicable, by assigning patient advocates to rural community-based outpatient clinics. . (b) GAO Report Not later than two years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives a report evaluating the implementation by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs of subsection (e) of section 7309A of title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection (a)(2).