text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
      This Act may be cited as the ``Veterans Mobility Safety Act of 
  2016''.
  SEC. 2. PERSONAL SELECTIONS OF AUTOMOBILES AND ADAPTIVE EQUIPMENT.
      Section 3903(b) of title 38, United States Code, is amended--
          (1) by striking ``Except'' and inserting ``(1) Except''; and
          (2) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
      ``(2) The Secretary shall ensure that to the extent practicable an 
  eligible person who is provided an automobile or other conveyance under 
  this chapter is given the opportunity to make personal selections 
  relating to such automobile or other conveyance.''.
  SEC. 3. COMPREHENSIVE POLICY FOR THE AUTOMOBILES ADAPTIVE EQUIPMENT 
  PROGRAM.
      (a) Comprehensive Policy.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
  develop a comprehensive policy regarding quality standards for 
  providers who provide modification services to veterans under the 
  automobile adaptive equipment program.
      (b) Scope.--The policy developed under subsection (a) shall cover 
  each of the following:
          (1) The Department of Veterans Affairs-wide management of the 
      automobile adaptive equipment program.
          (2) The development of standards for safety and quality of 
      equipment and installation of equipment through the automobile 
      adaptive equipment program, including with respect to the defined 
      differentiations in levels of modification complexity.
          (3) The consistent application of standards for safety and 
      quality of both equipment and installation throughout the 
      Department.
          (4) In accordance with subsection (c)(1), the certification of 
      a provider by a manufacturer if the Secretary designates the 
      quality standards of such manufacturer as meeting or exceeding the 
      standards developed under this section.
          (5) In accordance with subsection (c)(2), the certification of 
      a provider by a third party, nonprofit organization if the 
      Secretary designates the quality standards of such organization as 
      meeting or exceeding the standards developed under this section.
          (6) The education and training of personnel of the Department 
      who administer the automobile adaptive equipment program.
          (7) The compliance of the provider with the Americans with 
      Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq.) when furnishing 
      automobile adaptive equipment at the facility of the provider.
          (8) The allowance, where technically appropriate, for veterans 
      to receive modifications at their residence or location of choice, 
      including standards that ensure such receipt and notification to 
      veterans of the availability of such receipt.
      (c) Certification of Manufacturers and Third Party, Nonprofit 
  Organizations.--
          (1) Certification of manufacturers.--The Secretary shall 
      approve a manufacturer as a certifying manufacturer for purposes of 
      subsection (b)(4), if the manufacturer demonstrates that its 
      certification standards meet or exceed the quality standards 
      developed under this section.
          (2) Certification of third party, nonprofit organizations.--
              (A) In general.--The Secretary may approve two or more 
          private, nonprofit organizations as third party, nonprofit 
          certifying organizations for purposes of subsection (b)(5).
              (B) Limitation.--If at any time there is only one third 
          party, nonprofit certifying organization approved by the 
          Secretary for purposes of subsection (b)(5), such organization 
          shall not be permitted to provide certifications under such 
          subsection until such time as the Secretary approves a second 
          third party, nonprofit certifying organization for purposes of 
          such subsection.
      (d) Updates.--
          (1) Initial updates.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
      the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall update Veterans 
      Health Administration Handbook 1173.4, or any successor handbook or 
      directive, in accordance with the policy developed under subsection 
      (a).
          (2) Subsequent updates.--Not less frequently than once every 6 
      years thereafter, the Secretary shall update such handbook, or any 
      successor handbook or directive.
      (e) Consultation.--The Secretary shall develop the policy under 
  subsection (a), and revise such policy under subsection (d), in 
  consultation with veterans service organizations, the National Highway 
  Transportation Administration, industry representatives, manufacturers 
  of automobile adaptive equipment, and other entities with expertise in 
  installing, repairing, replacing, or manufacturing mobility equipment 
  or developing mobility accreditation standards for automobile adaptive 
  equipment.
      (f) Conflicts.--In developing and implementing the policy under 
  subsection (a), the Secretary shall--
          (1) minimize the possibility of conflicts of interest, to the 
      extent practicable; and
          (2) establish procedures that ensure against the use of a 
      certifying organization referred to in subsection (b)(5) that has a 
      financial conflict of interest regarding the certification of an 
      eligible provider.
      (g) Biennial Report.--
          (1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date on which 
      the Secretary updates Veterans Health Administration Handbook 
      1173.4, or any successor handbook or directive, under subsection 
      (d), and not less frequently than once every other year thereafter 
      through 2022, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on 
      Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans' 
      Affairs of the House of Representatives a report on the 
      implementation and facility compliance with the policy developed 
      under subsection (a).
          (2) Contents.--The report required by paragraph (1) shall 
      include the following:
              (A) A description of the implementation plan for the policy 
          developed under subsection (a) and any revisions to such policy 
          under subsection (d).
              (B) A description of the performance measures used to 
          determine the effectiveness of such policy in ensuring the 
          safety of veterans enrolled in the automobile adaptive 
          equipment program.
              (C) An assessment of safety issues due to improper 
          installations based on a survey of recipients of adaptive 
          equipment from the Department.
              (D) An assessment of the adequacy of the adaptive equipment 
          services of the Department based on a survey of recipients of 
          adaptive equipment from the Department.
              (E) An assessment of the training provided to the personnel 
          of the Department with respect to administering the program.
              (F) An assessment of the certified providers of the 
          Department of adaptive equipment with respect to meeting the 
          minimum standards developed under subsection (b)(2).
      (h) Definitions.--In this section:
          (1) Automobile adaptive equipment program.--The term 
      ``automobile adaptive equipment program'' means the program 
      administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs pursuant to 
      chapter 39 of title 38, United States Code.
          (2) Veterans service organization.--The term ``veterans service 
      organization'' means any organization recognized by the Secretary 
      for the representation of veterans under section 5902 of title 38, 
      United States Code.
  SEC. 4. APPOINTMENT OF LICENSED HEARING AID SPECIALISTS IN VETERANS 
  HEALTH ADMINISTRATION.
      (a) Licensed Hearing Aid Specialists.--
          (1) Appointment.--Section 7401(3) of title 38, United States 
      Code, is amended by inserting ``licensed hearing aid specialists,'' 
      after ``Audiologists,''.
          (2) Qualifications.--Section 7402(b)(14) of such title is 
      amended by inserting ``, hearing aid specialist'' after ``dental 
      technologist''.
      (b) Requirements.--With respect to appointing hearing aid 
  specialists under sections 7401 and 7402 of title 38, United States 
  Code, as amended by subsection (a), and providing services furnished by 
  such specialists, the Secretary shall ensure that--
          (1) a hearing aid specialist may only perform hearing services 
      consistent with the hearing aid specialist's State license related 
      to the practice of fitting and dispensing hearing aids without 
      excluding other qualified professionals, including audiologists, 
      from rendering services in overlapping practice areas;
          (2) services provided to veterans by hearing aid specialists 
      shall be provided as part of the non-medical treatment plan 
      developed by an audiologist; and
          (3) the medical facilities of the Department of Veterans 
      Affairs provide to veterans access to the full range of 
      professional services provided by an audiologist.
      (c) Consultation.--In determining the qualifications required for 
  hearing aid specialists and in carrying out subsection (b), the 
  Secretary shall consult with veterans service organizations, 
  audiologists, otolaryngologists, hearing aid specialists, and other 
  stakeholder and industry groups as the Secretary determines 
  appropriate.
      (d) Annual Report.--
          (1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the 
      enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter during the 5-year 
      period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act, the 
      Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to Congress a report on 
      the following:
              (A) Timely access of veterans to hearing health services 
          through the Department of Veterans Affairs.
              (B) Contracting policies of the Department with respect to 
          providing hearing health services to veterans in facilities 
          that are not facilities of the Department.
          (2) Timely access to services.--Each report shall, with respect 
      to the matter specified in paragraph (1)(A) for the 1-year period 
      preceding the submittal of such report, include the following:
              (A) The staffing levels of audiologists, hearing aid 
          specialists, and health technicians in audiology in the 
          Veterans Health Administration.
              (B) A description of the metrics used by the Secretary in 
          measuring performance with respect to appointments and care 
          relating to hearing health.
              (C) The average time that a veteran waits to receive an 
          appointment, beginning on the date on which the veteran makes 
          the request, for the following:
                  (i) A disability rating evaluation for a hearing-
              related disability.
                  (ii) A hearing aid evaluation.
                  (iii) Dispensing of hearing aids.
                  (iv) Any follow-up hearing health appointment.
              (D) The percentage of veterans whose total wait time for 
          appointments described in subparagraph (C), including an 
          initial and follow-up appointment, if applicable, is more than 
          30 days.
          (3) Contracting policies.--Each report shall, with respect to 
      the matter specified in paragraph (1)(B) for the 1-year period 
      preceding the submittal of such report, include the following:
              (A) The number of veterans that the Secretary refers to 
          non-Department audiologists for hearing health care 
          appointments.
              (B) The number of veterans that the Secretary refers to 
          non-Department hearing aid specialists for follow-up 
          appointments for a hearing aid evaluation, the dispensing of 
          hearing aids, or any other purpose relating to hearing health.
  
                                 Speaker of the House of Representatives.
  
                              Vice President of the United States and    
                                                 President of the Senate.
target: (This measure has not been amended since it was passed by the Senate on November 17, 2016.  Veterans Mobility Safety Act of 2016 (Sec. 2) This bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to ensure that an eligible disabled veteran provided an automobile or other conveyance is given the opportunity to make personal selections relating to such conveyance.  (Sec. 3) The VA shall develop a comprehensive policy regarding quality standards for providers of modification services to veterans under the automobile adaptive equipment program.  Such policy shall cover: (1) management of the automobile adaptive equipment program, (2) development and application of safety and quality standards for equipment and installation, (3) provider certification by a third party organization or manufacturer, (4) manufacturer certification of a provider, (5) education and training of VA personnel, (6) provider compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and (7) allowance for veterans to receive modifications at their residence or location of choice.  The VA shall approve a manufacturer as a certifying manufacturer if such manufacturer demonstrates that its certification standards meet or exceed the quality standards provided for by this bill.  The VA may approve two or more private, nonprofit organizations as third party, nonprofit certifying organizations.   The VA shall: (1) within one year and at least every six years thereafter, update VHA Handbook 1173.4 in accordance with such policy; and (2) within one year of such update and biennially thereafter through 2022, report on policy implementation and facility compliance.  The VA shall: (1) develop and revise such policy in consultation with veteran service organizations, the National Highway Transportation Administration, industry representatives, manufacturers of automobile adaptive equipment, and other entities with relevant expertise; and (2) ensure against the use of a certifying entity that has a financial conflict of interest regarding the certification of an eligible provider.  (Sec. 4) The VA may appoint licensed hearing aid specialists to the Veterans Health Administration. The VA shall ensure that: (1) a hearing aid specialist may only perform hearing services consistent with the specialist's state license related to the practice of fitting and dispensing hearing aids, without excluding other qualified professionals from rendering services in overlapping practice areas; (2) services provided to veterans by hearing aid specialists shall be provided as part of the non-medical treatment plan developed by an audiologist; and (3) VA medical facilities provide veterans with access to the full range of audiologist services. The VA shall, within one year and annually thereafter for the next five years, report on: (1) veterans access to such hearing health services; and (2) VA contracting policies for providing hearing health services to veterans in non-VA facilities, including the number of veterans referred  to audiologists and hearing aid specialists.
feat_title: Veterans Mobility Safety Act of 2016