Public Law 115-95 | Public Law 115–95: To authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to enter into contracts with nonprofit organizations to investigate medical centers of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

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PUBLIC LAW 115–95—DEC. 20, 2017

131 STAT. 2042

Public Law

115–95

115th Congress

An Act

To authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to enter into contracts with nonprofit organizations to investigate medical centers of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Dec. 20, 2017

[S. 1266]

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

Enhancing Veteran Care Act.

38 USC 101 note.

SECTION 1.

SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the “

Enhancing Veteran Care Act

”.

SEC. 2.

38 USC 1701 note.

INVESTIGATION OF MEDICAL CENTERS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

(a)

Assessment.

Reports.

In General.—

The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may contract with a nonprofit organization that accredits health care organizations and programs in the United States to investigate a medical center of the Department of Veterans Affairs to assess and report deficiencies of the facilities at such medical center.

(b)

Authority of Directors.—

(1)

In general.—

Subject to coordination under paragraph (2), the Secretary shall delegate the authority under subsection (a) to contract for an investigation at a medical center of the Department to the Director of the Veterans Integrated Service Network in which the medical center is located or the director of such medical center.

(2)

Notification.

Coordination.—

Before entering into a contract under paragraph (1), the Director of a Veterans Integrated Service Network or the director of a medical center, as the case may be, shall notify the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, the Inspector General of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and the Comptroller General of the United States for purposes of coordinating any investigation conducted pursuant to such contract with any other investigations that may be ongoing.

(c)

Rule of Construction.—

Nothing in this section may be construed—

(1)

to prevent the Office of the Inspector General of the Department of Veterans Affairs from conducting any review, audit, evaluation, or inspection regarding a topic for which an investigation is conducted under this section; or

(2)

to modify the requirement that employees of the Department assist with any review, audit, evaluation, or inspection 131 STAT. 2043 conducted by the Office of the Inspector General of the Department.

Approved December 20, 2017.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—S. 1266:

CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 163 (2017):

Nov. 9, considered and passed Senate.

Dec. 5, 6, considered and passed House.

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