I
111th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 4062
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
November 7, 2009
Mr. Adler of New Jersey (for himself, Mr. Hall of New York, Mr. Fattah, Ms. Schwartz, Mr. Brady of Pennsylvania, Mr. Sestak, and Mr. Walz) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs
A BILL
To amend title 38, United States Code, to make certain improvements in the administration of medical facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the
Veterans’ Health and Radiation Safety Act
.
Annual report on low volume programs at Department of Veterans Affairs medical facilities
Annual report
Subchapter II of chapter 73 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section:
Annual report on low volume programs
Annual report required
The Secretary shall submit to Congress an annual report on the low volume programs at each medical facility of the Department. Each such report shall contain the evaluation and the findings of the Secretary with respect to such programs.
Low Volume program defined
For purposes of this section, the term low
volume program
means a program that treats 100 patients or fewer during
a calendar
year.
.
Clerical amendment
The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 7330A the following new item:
7330B. Annual report on low volume programs.
.
Use of radioactive isotopes at Department of Veterans Affairs hospitals
In general
Subchapter II of chapter 73 of title 38, United States Code, as amended by section 1, is further amended by adding at the end the following new section:
Use of radioactive isotopes
Training required
The Secretary shall ensure that all employees, including employees employed under a contract entered into with a non-government entity, who are employed at a Department hospital where radioactive isotopes are used in the administration of medical services receive appropriate training on what constitutes a medical event and when and to whom a medical event should be reported.
Failure to provide training
If the Secretary determines that any Department hospital has failed to provide the training required under subsection (a), the Secretary shall ensure that radioactive isotopes are not used at that hospital for such period as the Secretary determines is appropriate.
.
Clerical amendment
The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter, as amended by section 1, is further amended by inserting after the item relating to section 7330B the following new item:
7330C. Use of radioactive isotopes.
.
Requirements relating to contracts for the provision of medical services
Evaluation of contractors
The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall carry out the following evaluations of all medical services provided pursuant to a contract entered into by the Secretary with a non-government entity:
Weekly independent peer reviews of such services.
Written evaluations of the services carried out by the supervisor or manager of the employee providing the services.
Such other evaluations as the Secretary determines are appropriate.
Requirements relating to extension of certain contracts
Before any contracting officer of the Department of Veterans Affairs may extend or renew any contract entered into by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and a non-government entity for the provision of medical services, the contracting officer shall review and take into consideration the results of the evaluations carried out under subsection (a).