GovTrack’s Bill Summary
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S. 2377 (110th): Veterans Health Care Quality Improvement Act
- Introduced:
- Nov 16, 2007 (110th Congress, 2007–2009)
- Sponsor:
- Sen. Richard Durbin [D-IL]
- Status:
- Died (Referred to Committee)
- See Instead:
- This bill was re-introduced as S. 246 (111th) on Jan 14, 2009.
The bill’s title was written by the bill’s sponsor. S. stands for Senate bill.
Library of Congress Summary
The summary below was written by the Congressional Research Service, which is a nonpartisan division of the Library of Congress.
11/16/2007--Introduced.
Veterans Health Care Quality Improvement Act - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to prescribe standards for appointment and practice as a physician within the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Requires:
(1) applicants to provide certain information, including each lawsuit, civil action, or other claim against the individual for medical malpractice or negligence, and their results;
(2) each appointee to disclose any judgments against the individual for medical malpractice or negligence and any payments made; and
(3) physicians already employed within the VHA to disclose such information.
Prohibits a new appointment without:
(1) approval of the regional director of the Veterans Integrated Services Network (Network) in which the individual will serve;
(2) board certification in the specialties in which the individual will practice; and
(3) a license to practice medicine in that state.
Requires:
(1) the VHA's Under Secretary of Health to designate a National Quality Assurance Officer for the VHA quality assurance program;
(2) each Network regional director to appoint a quality assurance officer; and
(3) the director of each VHA medical facility to appoint a quality assurance officer.
Directs the Secretary to review VA policies for maintaining health care quality and patient safety at VA medical facilities.
Requires the Secretary, in order to recruit and retain VHA physicians in hard-to-fill positions, to:
(1) repay certain educational loans for individuals who agree to serve for at least three years as a VHA physician;
(2) reimburse tuition for medical students who agree to serve as a VHA physician after such education; and
(3) enroll in the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program an individual who agrees to serve as a VHA physician for at least five days per month.
Encourages the Secretary to undertake additional incentives to encourage individuals to serve or practice as VHA physicians.
House Republican Conference Summary
The summary below was written by the House Republican Conference, which is the caucus of Republicans in the House of Representatives.
No summary available.
House Democratic Caucus Summary
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The bill contains the following citations to other parts of U.S. law:
United States Code
The United States Code is the compilation of permanent laws enacted by Congress. Temporary and other non-permanent laws do not appear in the United States Code. (About half of the United States Code is the law itself, called positive law. The other half is merely a compilation of the laws but has no legal significance.)
- Title 38: VETERANS’ BENEFITS
- Part I: GENERAL PROVISIONS
- Chapter 3: DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
- Section 305: Under Secretary for Health
Other Citations
- 38 U.S.C. Chapter 73
- 38 U.S.C. Chapter 74