This bill implements oversight procedures related to quality assurance in the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
Specifically, the bill requires the VA to implement a plan to strengthen oversight of the quality assurance program in the VBA. The VA must monitor the plan to address any deficiencies.
The VBA must annually compile a list of common recurring deficiencies and action items relating to disability compensation identified in its ongoing reviews of the functions of each of its principal organizational elements. Additionally, the VBA must develop and carry out a plan to address the recurring deficiencies and action items.
The Government Accountability Office must conduct a feasibility study of the VA entering a contract with a nongovernmental entity to carry out the quality assurance program in the VBA.
To amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the quality assurance 
 program of the Veterans Benefits Administration of the Department of 
                           Veterans Affairs.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. IMPROVEMENTS TO QUALITY ASSURANCE PROGRAM.

    (a) Plan for Oversight.--
            (1) Requirement.--Section 7731 of title 38, United States 
        Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new 
        subsection:
    ``(d)(1) The Secretary shall--
            ``(A) develop and carry out a plan to strengthen oversight 
        of the quality assurance program carried out under subsection 
        (a); and
            ``(B) monitor the implementation of the plan to address any 
        deficiencies that the Secretary identifies.
    ``(2) On an annual basis during the five-year period beginning on 
the date of the enactment of this subsection, the Secretary shall 
submit to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the House of 
Representatives and the Senate a report on the implementation of the 
plan under paragraph (1).''.
            (2) Submission of plan.--Not later than 180 days after the 
        date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans 
        Affairs shall submit to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of 
        the House of Representatives and the Senate the plan developed 
        under subsection (d) of section 7731 of title 38, United States 
        Code, as added by paragraph (1), and a description of the 
        progress the Secretary has made to implement such plan.
    (b) Recurring Deficiencies.--
            (1) Identification and corrective actions.--Section 7732 of 
        such title is amended--
                    (A) by striking ``The Under'' and inserting ``(a) 
                The Under''; and
                    (B) by adding at the end the following new 
                subsection:
    ``(b)(1) In carrying out subsection (a) with respect to quality 
reviews (including site visits) relating to disability compensation, on 
an annual basis, the Under Secretary shall compile a list of common 
recurring deficiencies and action items identified each year.
    ``(2) The Under Secretary shall develop and carry out a plan to 
address the recurring deficiencies and action items identified under 
paragraph (1).''.
            (2) Inclusion in annual reports.--Section 7734 of such 
        title is amended--
                    (A) in paragraph (2), by striking ``and'';
                    (B) by redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph 
                (4); and
                    (C) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following 
                new paragraph:
            ``(3) the list of common recurring deficiencies and action 
        items identified under section 7732(b)(1) of this title; and''.
    (c) GAO Study.--
            (1) Requirement.--The Comptroller General of the United 
        States shall conduct a feasibility study of the Secretary of 
        Veterans Affairs entering into a contract with a 
        nongovernmental entity to carry out the quality assurance 
        program under section 7731 of title 38, United States Code. The 
        study shall include the following:
                    (A) A review of common deficiencies of the program 
                as of the date of the study.
                    (B) Identification of both the costs and cost 
                savings regarding a nongovernmental entity carrying out 
                the program.
                    (C) A discussion regarding how having a 
                nongovernmental entity carry out the program may--
                            (i) address the deficiencies identified 
                        under subparagraph (A); and
                            (ii) improve the overall accuracy and 
                        timeliness of claims submitted to the 
                        Department of Veterans Affairs.
            (2) Submission.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
        the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit 
        to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the House of 
        Representatives and the Senate the study under paragraph (1).
                                 <all>
To amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the quality assurance program of the Veterans Benefits Administration of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
To amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the quality assurance program of the Veterans Benefits Administration of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Official Titles - House of Representatives
Official Title as Introduced
To amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the quality assurance program of the Veterans Benefits Administration of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Rep. Cloud, Michael