,i  #aai? ,,congress  #a/ ,session  ,h4 
,r4 #feie  ,,9 ,,! ,,h\se ,,(           
,,repres5tatives  ,decemb] #aj1         
#bjbe,mr4 ,s*midt 7= himself & ,ms4     
,elfre?7 introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2 :i* 0 
ref]r$ to ! ,committee on ,arm$         
,s]vices1 & 9 addition to ! ,committee  
on ,vet]ans' ,affairs1 = a p]iod to be  
subsequ5tly det]m9$ by ! ,speak]1 9 ea* 
case = consid]ation ( su* provisions z  
fall )9 ! jurisdiction ( ! committee    
conc]n$  ,a ,,bill  ,to direct !        
,secret>y ( ,def5se & ! ,secret>y (     
,vet]ans ,affairs to improve !          
availability ( c>e = vet]ans at         
facilities ( ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,def5se4  #a4
 ,improvem5t ( availability ( c>e =     
vet]ans f facilities & provid]s ( !     
,dep>tm5t ( ,def5se  7a7 ,action plans  
7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,pursuant to ! au?orities 
"u section #haaa ( title #ch1 ,unit$    
,/ates ,code1 & section #aajd ( title   
#aj1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 ! ,secret>y ( 
,def5se & ! ,secret>y ( ,vet]ans        
,affairs %all develop & implem5t action 

plans at cov]$ facilities-- 7,a7 to     
/r5g!n %>+ ( res\rces betwe5 ! ,dep>tm5t
 ( ,def5se & ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans     
,affairs "u exi/+ /atutory au?ority2    
7,b7 to improve communication betwe5 !  
,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs & p]t95t  
comm& & director lead]%ip ( milit>y     
m$ical treatm5t facilities2  7,c7 to    
increase utilization ( milit>y m$ical   
treatm5t facilities ) excess capacity or
 space2  7,d7 to increase case volume & 
complexity = graduate pr(essional & o!r 
m$ical education programs ( ! ,dep>tm5t 
( ,def5se & ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans      
,affairs2 &  7,e7 to increase access to 
c>e = enroll$ vet]ans 9 areas 9 :i* a   
milit>y m$ical treatm5t facility is     
locat$ t is id5tifi$ by ! ,secret>y (   
,def5se z hav+ excess capacity or space4
  7#b7 ,matt]s to be includ$ ,! action  
plans requir$ "u p>agraph 7#a7 %all     
include ! foll[+3 7,a7 ,cross-cr$5tial+ 
& privileg+ ( heal? c>e provid]s to     
jo9tly c>e = enroll$ vet]ans 9 m$ical   
facilities ( ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,def5se & !  

,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs4  7,b7    
,exp$it$ access to in/allations ( !     
,dep>tm5t ( ,def5se = /aff ( ! ,dep>tm5t
 ( ,vet]ans ,affairs & enroll$ vet]ans4 
7,c7 ,! designation ( a coord9ator )9   
ea* cov]$ facility to s]ve z a liaison  
betwe5 ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,def5se & !        
,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs & to lead 
! implem5tation ( su* action plan4  7,d7
 ,a me*anism = monitor+ ! effectiv5ess (
 su* action plan on an ongo+ basis1 to  
include e/abli%+ relevant p]=mance goals
 & collect+ data to assess progress     
t[>ds ^? goals4  7,e7 ,prioritiz$       
integration ( relevant in=mation        
te*nology & o!r sy/ems or processes to  
enable seamless in=mation %>+1 m$ical   
records ref]rals & ancill>y ord]s &     
results1 paym5t me?odologies & bill+    
processes1 & workload attribution :5    
p]sonnel ( ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans       
,affairs provide s]vices at facilities (
 ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,def5se or :5 p]sonnel ( 
! ,dep>tm5t ( ,def5se provide s]vices at
 facilities ( ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans    

,affairs4  7,f7 ,an ov]sight &          
acc\ntability plan = ! h&l+ ( adv]se    
m$ical ev5ts & compla9ts f pati5ts or   
/aff1 includ+ a requirem5t to track any 
significant adv]se m$ical ev5ts &       
provide in=mation on su* ev5ts 9 !      
brief+ requir$ "u subsection 7f74  7,g7 
,any o!r matt] t ! ,secret>y ( ,def5se &
 ! ,secret>y ( ,vet]ans ,affairs consid]
 appropriate4  7b7 ,approval ( action   
plans ,be=e any action plan requir$ "u  
subsection 7a7 ) respect to a cov]$     
facility %all be consid]$ complete &    
submitt$ to ! appropriate committees (  
,congress pursuant to subsection 7e71 ! 
,secret>y ( ,def5se & ! ,secret>y (     
,vet]ans ,affairs %all ensure t approval
 = ! action plan is obta9$ f-- 7#a7 !   
co-*airs ( ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans       
,affairs-,dep>tm5t ( ,def5se ,jo9t      
,executive ,committee e/abli%$ "u       
section #cbj ( title #ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates 
,code2  7#b7 ! local in/allation comm&] 
= ! cov]$ facility ( ! ,dep>tm5t (      
,def5se2 &  7#c7 ! director ( ! relevant

 m$ical c5t] ( ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans   
,affairs ) respect to any cov]$ facility
 ( ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs4  7c7
 ,requirem5ts relat+ to %>+ agreem5ts   
7#a7 ,lead coord9ator ,! ,secret>y (    
,def5se & ! ,secret>y ( ,vet]ans        
,affairs %all ensure t !re is a lead    
coord9ator at ea* facility ( ! ,dep>tm5t
 ( ,def5se or ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans    
,affairs1 z ! case may be1 ) respect to 
:i* !re is a %>+ agreem5t 9 place4  7#b7
 ,li/ ( agreem5ts ,! ,secret>y ( ,def5se
 & ! ,secret>y ( ,vet]ans ,affairs %all 
ma9ta9 on a publicly available website a
 li/ ( ! %>+ agreem5ts 9 place betwe5 ! 
m$ical facilities ( ! ,dep>tm5t (       
,def5se & ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans        
,affairs4  7d7 ,pati5t safety1          
compla9ts1 & acc\ntability  7#a7 ,secure
 compla9t process  7,a7 ,9 g5]al ,!     
,secret>y ( ,def5se & ! ,secret>y (     
,vet]ans ,affairs %all e/abli% a secure 
me*anism = enroll$ vet]ans to report    
conc]ns reg>d+ c>e receiv$ "u an action 
plan requir$ "u subsection 7a74  7,b7   

,elem5ts ( me*anism ,! me*anism e/abli%$
 "u subp>agraph 7,a7 %all protect       
confid5tiality1 prohibit retaliation1 & 
ensure transmission ( ea* compla9t to   
bo? ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,def5se & ! ,dep>tm5t 
( ,vet]ans ,affairs4  7#b7 ,docum5tation
 & review  7,a7 ,docum5tation ,!        
,secret>y ( ,def5se & ! ,secret>y (     
,vet]ans ,affairs %all ma9ta9 records ( 
all compla9ts1 adv]se ev5ts1 & safety   
incid5ts involv+ pati5ts or /aff        
pursuant to ! action plans requir$ by   
subsection 7a74  7,b7 ,review ,! records
 ma9ta9$ "u subp>agraph 7,a7 %all be    
jo9tly review$ on a qu>t]ly basis by    
designat$ (ficials ( ! ,dep>tm5t (      
,def5se & ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans        
,affairs4  7#c7 ,notification &         
inve/igation ,any allegation ( abuse1   
neglect1 or misconduct involv+ p]sonnel 
( ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,def5se 9 ! treatm5t ( a
 vet]an "u an action plan %all be       
promptly ref]r$ by ! ,secret>y (        
,vet]ans ,affairs1 ! ,secret>y (        
,def5se1 & ! comm&] or m$ical c5t]      

director1 z applicable1 ( ! facility    
conc]n$ to ! ,(fice ( ,inspector ,g5]al 
( ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,def5se & ! ,dep>tm5t ( 
,vet]ans ,affairs4  7#d7 ,int]im        
protective measures ,p5d+ resolution (  
any inve/igation relat+ to conduct "u an
 action plan1 ! ,secret>y ( ,vet]ans    
,affairs may susp5d ref]rals ( vet]ans  
to ! provid] or facility conc]n$4  7e7  
,submission to ,congress ,n lat] ?an #cj
 days foll[+ ! completion ( ! action    
plans requir$ "u subsection 7a71 !      
,secret>y ( ,def5se & ! ,secret>y (     
,vet]ans ,affairs %all submit su* plans 
to ! appropriate committees ( ,congress4
  7f7 ,annual jo9t brief+s on action    
plans ,n lat] ?an "o ye> aft] submitt+ !
 action plans to ! appropriate          
committees ( ,congress pursuant to      
subsection 7e71 ! ,secret>y ( ,def5se & 
! ,secret>y ( ,vet]ans ,affairs %all    
provide to ! appropriate committees (   
,congress a brief+ conta9+--  7#a7 a    
/atus update on ! progress ( implem5t+ !
 action plans requir$ "u ?is section2   

7#b7 recomm5dations = develop+ subsequ5t
 action plans = ea* facility ) respect  
to :i* !re is a %>+ agreem5t 9 place2   
7#c7 ! numb] ( pati5ts s]v$ pursuant to 
! action plans1 brok5 d[n by facility & 
s]vice type2  7#d7 ! numb] ( heal? c>e  
provid]s :o 7 cross-cr$5tial$ or        
privileg$ to jo9tly c>e = b5efici>ies 9 
m$ical facilities ( ! ,dep>tm5t (       
,def5se or ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans       
,affairs pursuant to ! action plans1    
brok5 d[n by facility & s]vice type2    
7#e7 ! co/s incurr$ & reimburs$ betwe5 !
 ,dep>tm5t ( ,def5se & ! ,dep>tm5t (    
,vet]ans ,affairs pursuant to ! action  
plans1 includ+ an acc\nt+ ( ! use ( !   
,,dod-,,va ,heal? ,c>e ,%>+ ,inc5tive   
,fund e/abli%$ "u section #haaa7;d77#b7 
( title #ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 if    
applicable2  7#f7 a summ>y ( !          
effectiv5ess ( ! me*anisms develop$     
pursuant to ! action plans relat$ to    
ov]sight1 acc\ntability1 data-ga!r+1 &  
p]=mance goals z well z any             
recomm5dations = improv+ su* me*anisms2 

7#g7 a summ>y ( any pati5t safety       
incid5ts or compla9ts & associat$       
resolutions z well z any recomm5dations 
= improv+ ! pati5t safety & compla9t    
resolution process "u ! actions plans2 &
  7#h7 a summ>y ( ! integration (       
in=mation te*nology & o!r sy/ems        
pursuant to ! action plans z well z     
b>ri]s to fur!r integration &           
recomm5dations = improv+ su*            
integration4  7g7 ,rule ( con/ruction   
,no?+ 9 ?is section %all be con/ru$ to  
all[ ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,def5se or !         
,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs to require
 a vet]an to seek c>e at a facility ( ! 
,dep>tm5t ( ,def5se or to all[ milit>y  
m$ical treatm5t facilities to be us$ z a
 facility ( ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans      
,affairs = purposes ( det]m9+           
eligibility ( vet]ans = c>e f a         
non-,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs       
provid] "u ! eligibility access /&>ds   
develop$ "u section #agjc;,b ( title    
#ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code4  7h7 ,sunset  
,?is section %all t]m9ate on ,septemb]  

#cj1 #bjbh4  7i7 ,def9itions ,9 ?is     
section3 7#a7 ,! t]m appropriate        
committees ( ,congress means--  7,a7 !  
,committee on ,arm$ ,s]vices & !        
,committee on ,vet]ans' ,affairs ( !    
,s5ate2 &  7,b7 ! ,committee on ,arm$   
,s]vices & ! ,committee on ,vet]ans'    
,affairs ( ! ,h\se ( ,repres5tatives4   
7#b7 ,! t]m cov]$ facility means-- 7,a7 
a milit>y m$ical treatm5t facility 7z   
su* t]m is def9$ 9 section #ajgc;c (    
title #aj1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code72 or     
7,b7 a m$ical facility ( ! ,dep>tm5t (  
,vet]ans ,affairs describ$ 9 section    
#haja7c7 ( title #ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates     
,code4  7#c7 ,! t]m enroll$ vet]an means
 a vet]an enroll$ 9 ! pati5t enrollm5t  
sy/em ( ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs 
e/abli%$ & op]at$ "u section #agje7;a7 (
 title #ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code4  7#d7  
,! t]m %>+ agreem5t means an agreem5t = 
! %>+ ( heal?-c>e res\rces betwe5 !     
,dep>tm5t ( ,def5se & ! ,dep>tm5t (     
,vet]ans ,affairs "u section #aajd (    
title #aj1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 or      

section #haaa ( title #ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates
 ,code4  7#e7 ,! t]m vet]an has ! mean+ 
giv5 t t]m 9 section #aja ( title #ch1  
,unit$ ,/ates ,code4