Veterans Medical Care Revenue Enhancement Act of 2005 - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to: (1) conduct a demonstration project for the improvement of business practices of the Veterans Health Administration (VHA); and (2) enter into a performance-based contract for a contractor to carry out functions specified in this Act.
Requires the Secretary to conduct the project at two VHA medical centers within the same service area, selected from among medical centers located in those areas that the Secretary determines have relatively low rates of recovery or collection of indebtedness from third-party payors.
Sets forth provisions regarding the selection and functions of the contractor, including requiring the contractor to establish a plan to standardize and coordinate all activities related to billing for health care furnished to veterans for non-service-connected disabilities, and a database containing third-party payor information for veterans receiving health care.
Directs the Secretary to: (1) ensure that a VHA employee is designated to be the full-time project manager for the project and that such employee's duty station is at one of the medical centers at which the project is conducted; and (2) administer the project so that during the period of the conduct of the project (two years) there is no reduction in full-time equivalent employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs at the medical centers at which the project is conducted that is attributable to the conduct of the project.
[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2988 Introduced in House (IH)]
109th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2988
To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct a demonstration
project for the improvement of business practices of the Veterans
Health Administration.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
June 20, 2005
Mr. Bilirakis (for himself, Mr. Buyer, and Mr. Everett) introduced the
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans'
Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct a demonstration
project for the improvement of business practices of the Veterans
Health Administration.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Veterans Medical Care Revenue
Enhancement Act of 2005''.
SEC. 2. DEMONSTRATION PROJECT TO IMPROVE BUSINESS PRACTICES OF VETERANS
HEALTH ADMINISTRATION.
(a) Demonstration Project Required.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall
conduct a demonstration project under this section for the
improvement of business practices of the Veterans Health
Administration.
(2) Performance-based contract.-- To carry out the
demonstration project, the Secretary shall enter into a
performance-based contract for a contractor to carry out the
functions specified in subsection (e).
(3) Cost limitation.--The total amount paid to the
contractor under the contract may not exceed $10,000,000.
(b) Commencement and Duration of Project.--The demonstration
project shall be conducted during the two-year period beginning on the
first day of the first month beginning more than 120 days after the
date of the enactment of this Act.
(c) Sites for Conduct of Project.--The Secretary shall conduct the
demonstration project at two medical centers of the Veterans Health
Administration within the same service area (referred to as a Veterans
Integrated Service Network) of the Veterans Health Administration. The
two medical centers at which the project is conducted shall be selected
by the Secretary from among medical centers that are located in those
services areas of the Veterans Health Administration that the Secretary
determines have relatively low rates of recovery or collection of
indebtedness from third-party payors under section 1729 of title 38,
United States Code.
(d) Selection of Contractor.--The Secretary shall carry out the
process for selection of the contractor for the demonstration project
so that the contractor to perform the contract is selected, and the
contract is awarded, not later than three months after the date of the
enactment of this Act. The contractor shall be an entity or
organization that has significant experience in the administrative
processing of health care charges and claims.
(e) Functions of Contractor.--The Secretary shall provide in the
contract for the following functions of the contractor with respect to
each facility at which the demonstration project is conducted:
(1) Establishment of a plan to standardize and coordinate
all activities related to billing for health-care items and
services furnished to veterans for non-service-connected
disabilities.
(2) Reengineering of the business processes for billing and
accounts receivable activities.
(3) Application of commercial-industry standards for
measures of access, timeliness, and performance.
(4) Establishment of a database containing third-party
payor information for veterans receiving health care and
services.
(5) Such other requirements with respect to business
practices as the Secretary may specify.
(f) VHA Project Manager.--As part of the demonstration project, the
Secretary shall ensure that a Veterans Health Administration employee
is designated to be the full-time project manager for the project and
that such employee's duty station is at one of the medical centers at
which the project is conducted, with provision for visits as needed to
the other medical center at which the project is conducted.
(g) Employee Protection.--The Secretary shall administer the
demonstration project so that during the period of the conduct of the
demonstration project there is no reduction in full-time equivalent
employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs at the medical centers
at which the project is conducted that is attributable to the conduct
of the demonstration project.
(h) Reports to Congress.--
(1) Periodic progress reports on project implementation.--
(A) Reports required.--The Secretary shall submit
to Congress progress reports on the implementation of
the demonstration project.
(B) Time for progress reports.-- Such reports shall
be submitted as expeditiously as feasible after the end
of--
(i) the 60-day period, the 90-day period,
and the 180-day period beginning on the date of
the enactment of this Act; and
(ii) the 60-day period, the 90-day period,
and the 180-day period beginning on the date of
the award of the contract under subsection (d).
(C) Matter to be included.--Each report under this
paragraph shall set out the progress to date on the
implementation of the demonstration project,
including--
(i) before the contractor has been
selected, progress toward selection of the
contractor (identified by the steps in the
acquisition process that have been accomplished
and that remain to be accomplished); and
(ii) after the contractor has been
selected, the contractor's progress in
initiating and carrying out the demonstration
project in accordance with the requirements of
this section.
(2) Interim reports on project operation.--After the
completion of the first 12 months, and after the completion of
the first 18 months, of the demonstration project, the
Secretary shall submit to Congress an interim report on the
operation of the demonstration project to that date. Each such
report shall include the following:
(A) The assessment of the Secretary as to whether
the rate of recovery or collection of indebtedness owed
the United States from third-party payors has improved
by reason of the project.
(B) The assessment of the Secretary as to the
performance of the contractor.
(C) Estimated cost savings to the Department as a
result of the project.
(3) Final report.--After the conclusion of the
demonstration project, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a
final report on the project. The Secretary shall include in
that report the matters specified in paragraph (2) and the
Secretary's recommendation for implementing on a permanent
basis the recovery or collection system tested in the
demonstration project and expanding the demonstration project
to other facilities of the Veterans Health Administration. The
final report shall be submitted not later than 90 days after
the conclusion of the demonstration project.
(i) Comptroller General Review and Reports.--
(1) Review.--The Comptroller General shall review the
demonstration project on an ongoing basis.
(2) Reports.--The Comptroller General shall submit to
Congress a report on the Comptroller General's findings and
recommendations concerning the demonstration project--
(A) after the operation of the demonstration
project for a period of one year; and
(B) after the operation of the demonstration
project for a period of two years.
(j) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for the conduct of
the demonstration project under this section the sum of $10,000,000.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations.
Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote .
Provisions of This Measure Incorporated in H.R. 1220, Section 5.
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H5754)
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