1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Veterans Patient Advocacy Act”.
Veterans Patient Advocacy Act
A BILL
To amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the assignment of patient advocates at medical facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
2. Patient advocates at medical facilities of Department of Veterans Affairs
In general— Section 7309A of title 38, United States Code, is amended—
by redesignating subsections (e) and (f) as subsections (f) and (g), respectively; and
by inserting after subsection (d) the following new subsection (e):
“(e) Number of patient advocates—Beginning on the date that is one year after the date of the enactment of this subsection, the Director shall ensure that—
“(1) there is not fewer than one patient advocate for every 13,500 veterans enrolled in the system of annual patient enrollment established and operated under section 1705 of this title; and
“(2) highly rural veterans may access the services of patient advocates, including, to the extent practicable, with respect to assigning patient advocates to rural community-based outpatient clinics.”
GAO Report— Not later than two years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Senate a report evaluating the implementation by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs of section 7309A of title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection (a).