To prohibit certain health care providers from providing non-Department health care services to veterans.

SA 4026. Ms. BALDWIN (for herself, Mr. Moran, and Mr. Tillis)
submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to amendment SA 3896
proposed by Ms. Collins (for herself, Mr. Kirk, Mr. Reed, and Mr.
Tester) to the bill H.R. 2577, making appropriations for the
Departments of Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development, and
related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2016, and for
other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

At the end of title II of division B, add the following:

SEC. 251. PREVENTION OF CERTAIN HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS FROM
PROVIDING NON-DEPARTMENT HEALTH CARE SERVICES
TO VETERANS.

(a) In General.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall
deny or revoke the eligibility of a health care provider to
provide non-Department health care services to veterans if
the Secretary determines that--
(1) the health care provider was removed from employment
with the Department of Veterans Affairs due to conduct that
violated a policy of the Department relating to the delivery
of safe and appropriate patient care;
(2) the health care provider violated the requirements of a
medical license of the health care provider;
(3) the health care provider had a Department credential
revoked and the Secretary determines that the grounds for
such revocation impacts the ability of the health care
provider to deliver safe and appropriate care; or
(4) the health care provider violated a law for which a
term of imprisonment of more than one year may be imposed.
(b) Permissive Action.--The Secretary may deny, revoke, or
suspend the eligibility of a health care provider to provide
non-Department health care services if the Secretary has
reasonable belief that such action is necessary to
immediately protect the health, safety, or welfare of
veterans and--
(1) the health care provider is under investigation by the
medical licensing board of a State in which the health care
provider is licensed or practices;
(2) the health care provider has entered into a settlement
agreement for a disciplinary charge relating to the practice
of medicine by the health care provider; or
(3) the Secretary otherwise determines that such action is
appropriate under the circumstances.
(c) Suspension.--The Secretary shall suspend the
eligibility of a health care provider to provide non-
Department health care services to veterans if the health
care provider is suspended from serving as a health care
provider of the Department.
(d) Report Required.--Not later than two years after the
date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of
the United States shall submit to Congress a report on the
implementation by the Secretary of this section, including
the following:
(1) The aggregate number of health care providers denied or
suspended under this section from participation in providing
non-Department health care services.
(2) An evaluation of any impact on access to care for
patients or staffing shortages in programs of the Department
providing non-Department health care services.
(3) An explanation of the coordination of the Department
with the medical licensing boards of States in implementing
this section, the amount of involvement of such boards in
such implementation, and efforts by the Department to address
any concerns raised by such boards with respect to such
implementation.
(4) Such recommendations as the Comptroller General
considers appropriate regarding harmonizing eligibility
criteria between health care providers of the Department and
health care providers eligible to provide non-Department
health care services.
(e) Non-Department Health Care Services Defined.--In this
section, the term ``non-Department health care services''
means--
(1) services provided under subchapter I of chapter 17 of
title 38, United States Code, at non-Department facilities
(as defined in section 1701 of such title);
(2) services provided under section 101 of the Veterans
Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 (Public Law
113-146; 38 U.S.C. 1701 note);
(3) services purchased through the Medical Community Care
account of the Department; or
(4) services purchased with amounts deposited in the
Veterans Choice Fund under section 802 of the Veterans
Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014.
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