Frontlines to Lifelines Act of 2015
Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) to revive, for a three-year period, VA's Intermediate Care Technician Pilot Program that was carried out between January 2013 and February 2014. Requires VA to: (1) expand the pilot program to include at least 250 intermediate care technicians, and (2) give priority in assigning those technicians to VA facilities at which veterans have the longest wait times.
Requires the Secretary of Defense (DOD) to transfer credentialing data regarding DOD health care providers that are hired by VA to VA.
Authorizes VA to allow a covered nurse to practice independently, without the supervision or direction of others, under a set of VA-approved privileges, regardless of the state in which VA employs the covered nurse. Defines a "covered nurse" as an advanced practice registered nurse who is employed by VA as: (1) a nurse midwife; (2) a clinical nurse specialist, with respect to the provision of mental health care; or (3) a nurse practitioner.
[Congressional Bills 114th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 297 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
114th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 297
To revive and expand the Intermediate Care Technician Pilot Program of
the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
January 28, 2015
Mr. Kirk (for himself, Mr. Manchin, and Mr. Udall) introduced the
following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on
Veterans' Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To revive and expand the Intermediate Care Technician Pilot Program of
the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.
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 ``Frontlines to Lifelines Act of
2015''.
SEC. 2. REVIVAL AND EXPANSION OF INTERMEDIATE CARE TECHNICIAN PILOT
PROGRAM OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.
(a) Revival.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall revive the
Intermediate Care Technician Pilot Program of the Department of
Veterans Affairs that was carried out by the Secretary between January
2013 and February 2014.
(b) Technicians.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary shall expand the pilot
program under subsection (a) to include not less than 250
intermediate care technicians who are participating in the
pilot program.
(2) Facilities.--
(A) In general.--Any intermediate care technician
hired pursuant to paragraph (1) may be assigned to a
medical facility of the Department as determined by the
Secretary for purposes of this section.
(B) Priority.--In assigning intermediate care
technicians under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall
give priority to facilities at which veterans have the
longest wait times for appointments for the receipt of
hospital care or medical services from the Department,
as determined by the Secretary for purposes of this
section.
(c) Termination.--The Secretary shall carry out the pilot program
under subsection (a) during the three-year period beginning on the date
of the enactment of this Act.
(d) Hospital Care and Medical Services Defined.--In this section,
the terms ``hospital care'' and ``medical services'' have the meanings
given such terms in section 1701 of title 38, United States Code.
SEC. 3. TRANSFER OF HEALTH CARE PROVIDER CREDENTIALING DATA FROM
SECRETARY OF DEFENSE TO SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.
(a) In General.--In a case in which the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs hires a covered health care provider, the Secretary of Defense
shall, after receiving a request from the Secretary of Veterans Affairs
for the credentialing data of the Secretary of Defense relating to such
health care provider, transfer to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs
such credentialing data.
(b) Covered Health Care Providers.--For purposes of this section, a
covered provider is a health care provider who--
(1) is or was employed by the Secretary of Defense;
(2) provides or provided health care related services as
part of such employment; and
(3) was credentialed by the Secretary of Defense.
(c) Policies and Regulations.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs
and the Secretary of Defense shall establish such policies and
promulgate such regulations as may be necessary to carry out this
section.
(d) Credentialing Defined.--In this section, the term
``credentialing'' means the systematic process of screening and
evaluating qualifications and other credentials, including licensure,
required education, relevant training and experience, and current
competence and health status.
SEC. 4. INDEPENDENT PRACTICE OF CERTAIN ADVANCED PRACTICE REGISTERED
NURSES OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.
(a) In General.--Notwithstanding any provision of law of a State,
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs may authorize a covered nurse to
practice independently, without supervision or direction of others,
under a set of privileges approved by the Secretary, regardless of the
State in which the covered nurse is employed by the Secretary.
(b) Covered Nurses.--For purposes of this section, a covered nurse
is an advanced practice registered nurse who is employed by the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs in any of the following specializations:
(1) Nurse Midwife.
(2) Clinical Nurse Specialist, with respect to the
provision of mental health care.
(3) Nurse Practitioner.
<all>
Introduced in Senate
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 114-201.
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