[Congressional Bills 113th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4971 Reported in House (RH)]
Union Calendar No. 484
113th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 4971
[Report No. 113-645]
To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct annual surveys
of veterans on experiences obtaining hospital care and medical services
from medical facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for
other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
June 25, 2014
Mr. O'Rourke (for himself, Mr. Flores, Ms. Gabbard, Mr. Horsford, Mr.
Israel, Mr. Jolly, Mr. Michaud, Mr. Pallone, Mr. Swalwell of
California, Ms. Hanabusa, Ms. Hahn, and Mr. Thompson of California)
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on
Veterans' Affairs
December 3, 2014
Additional sponsors: Mr. Hurt, Mrs. Negrete McLeod, Ms. Brownley of
California, Ms. Titus, Mr. Barber, Mrs. Kirkpatrick, Mr. Al Green of
Texas, Mr. Gene Green of Texas, Mr. Garcia, Mr. Scott of Virginia, Mr.
Cook, Mr. Yoho, Mr. Ruiz, Mrs. Walorski, Mr. Walz, Mr. Pearce, Mr.
Lewis, Mr. Jones, Ms. Sinema, Mr. Huffman, and Ms. Kuster
December 3, 2014
Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole
House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed
[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed
in italic]
[For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on June
25, 2014]
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct annual surveys
of veterans on experiences obtaining hospital care and medical services
from medical facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for
other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Ask Veterans Act''.
SEC. 2. SURVEY OF VETERAN EXPERIENCES WITH DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS
AFFAIRS MEDICAL CARE.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall seek to
enter into a contract with a non-government entity with significant
experience conducting scientifically verifiable surveys and research to
conduct an annual survey of a statistically significant sample of
veterans who reside in the geographic area served by each of the
medical facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs to determine
the nature of the experiences of such veterans in obtaining hospital
care and medical services furnished by the Secretary at each such
medical facility. Each such survey shall be conducted using scientific
and verifiable methods. Such contract shall provide that the non-
government entity shall conduct such annual surveys during the five-
year period beginning on the date on which the Secretary enters into
the contract with the non-government entity.
(b) Contents.--The contract entered into under subsection (a) shall
provide that each survey conducted pursuant to the contract shall be
specific to a medical facility of the Department and shall include
questions relating to the experiences of veterans in requesting and
receiving appointments for hospital care and medical services furnished
by the Secretary at that medical facility, including questions relating
to each of the following:
(1) The veteran's ability to obtain hospital care and
medical services at the facility in a timely manner.
(2) The period of time between the date on which the
veteran requests an appointment at the facility and the date on
which the appointment is scheduled.
(3) The frequency with which scheduled appointments are
cancelled by the facility.
(4) The quality of hospital care or medical services the
veteran has received at the facility.
(c) Consultation.--The contract entered into under subsection (a)
shall provide that in designing and conducting the surveys for each
medical facility of the Department pursuant to such contract, the non-
government entity shall consult with veterans service organizations.
(d) Certification.--The contract entered into under subsection (a)
shall provide that--
(1) before conducting a survey pursuant to the contract,
the non-government entity shall submit the proposed survey to
the Comptroller General who shall assess whether the survey is
scientifically valid and whether the proposed sample size of
veterans to be surveyed is statistically significant; and
(2) the non-government entity may not conduct such a survey
until the Comptroller General provides such a certification for
the survey.
(e) Submittal of Results and Public Availability of Information.--
Not later than 30 days after the completion of the surveys conducted
pursuant to a contract entered into under subsection (a) for a year,
the Secretary shall make the results of the surveys publicly available
on the Internet website of the Department.
(f) Paperwork Reduction.--Subchapter I of chapter 35 of title 44,
United States Code shall not apply to this section.
(g) Deadline for Implementation.--The Secretary shall enter into a
contract under subsection (a) for each medical facility of the
Department by not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment
of this Act.
SEC. 3. MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT FOR VETERANS WHO SERVED IN CLASSIFIED
MISSIONS.
(a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that veterans
who experience combat-related mental health wounds should have
immediate, appropriate, and consistent access to comprehensive mental
health care.
(b) In General.--Subchapter II of chapter 17 of title 38, United
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following section:
``Sec. 1720H. Mental health treatment for veterans who served in
classified missions
``(a) Establishment of Standards.--(1) The Secretary shall
establish standards and procedures to ensure that each covered veteran
may access mental health care provided by the Secretary in a manner
that fully accommodates the obligation of the veteran to not improperly
disclose classified information.
``(2) The Secretary shall disseminate guidance to employees of the
Veterans Health Administration, including mental health professionals,
on the standards and procedures established under paragraph (1) and how
to best engage covered veterans during the course of mental health
treatment with respect to classified information.
``(b) Identification.--In carrying out this section, the Secretary
shall ensure that a veteran may elect to identify as a covered veteran
on an appropriate form.
``(c) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) The term `classified information' means any
information or material that has been determined by an official
of the United States pursuant to law, an Executive order, or
regulation to require protection against unauthorized
disclosure for reasons of national security.
``(2) The term `covered veteran' means a veteran who--
``(A) is enrolled in the health care system
established under section 1705(a) of this title;
``(B) is seeking mental health treatment; and
``(C) in the course of serving in the Armed Forces,
participated in a sensitive mission or served in a
sensitive unit.
``(3) The term `sensitive mission' means a mission of the
Armed Forces that, at the time at which a covered veteran seeks
treatment, is classified.
``(4) The term `sensitive unit' has the meaning given that
term in section 130b(c)(4) of title 10.''.
(c) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of
such chapter is amended by adding after the item relating to section
1720G the following new item:
``1720H. Mental health treatment for veterans who served in classified
missions.''.
SEC. 4. BOARD OF VETERANS' APPEALS VIDEO HEARINGS.
Section 7107 of title 38, United States Code, is amended--
(1) in subsection (d), by amending paragraph (1) to read as
follows:
``(1)(A) Upon request for a hearing, the Board shall determine, for
purposes of scheduling the hearing for the earliest possible date,
whether a hearing before the Board will be held at its principal
location or at a facility of the Department or other appropriate
Federal facility located within the area served by a regional office of
the Department. The Board shall also determine whether to provide a
hearing through the use of the facilities and equipment described in
subsection (e)(1) or by the appellant personally appearing before a
Board member or panel.
``(B) The Board shall notify the appellant of the determinations of
the location and type of hearing made under subparagraph (A). Upon
notification, the appellant may request a different location or type of
hearing as described in such subparagraph. If so requested, the Board
shall grant such request and ensure that the hearing is scheduled at
the earliest possible date without any undue delay or other prejudice
to the appellant.''; and
(2) in subsection (e), by amending paragraph (2) to read as
follows:
``(2) Any hearing provided through the use of the facilities and
equipment described in paragraph (1) shall be conducted in the same
manner as, and shall be considered the equivalent of, a personal
hearing.''.
Union Calendar No. 484
113th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 4971
[Report No. 113-645]
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct annual surveys
of veterans on experiences obtaining hospital care and medical services
from medical facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for
other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
December 3, 2014
Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole
House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed