Chapter 73, Subchapter I, Section 7309, Subsection (e) · 38 U.S.C. Chapter 73 — VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION—ORGANIZATION AND FUNCTIONS

Contents

(e)

(1)Not later than March 15 of each year, 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 activities of the Readjustment Counseling Service during the preceding fiscal year.

(2)Each report submitted under paragraph (1) shall include, with respect to the period covered by the report, the following:

(A)A summary of the activities of the Readjustment Counseling Service, including Vet Centers.

(B)A description of the workload and additional treatment capacity of the Vet Centers, including, for each Vet Center, the ratio of the number of full-time equivalent employees at such Vet Center and the number of individuals who received services or assistance at such Vet Center.

(C)A detailed analysis of demand for and unmet need for readjustment counseling services and the Secretary’s plan for meeting such unmet need, including the resources required to meet such unmet need, such as additional staff, additional locations, additional infrastructure, infrastructure improvements, and additional mobile Vet Centers.

(D)A description of actions taken by the Secretary to reduce—

(i)vacancies in counselor positions in the Readjustment Counseling Service; and

(ii)the time it takes to hire such counselors.

(3)For each even numbered year in which the report required by paragraph (1) is submitted, the Secretary shall include in such report a prediction of—

(A)trends in demand for care;

(B)long-term investments required with respect to the provision of care;

(C)requirements relating to maintenance of infrastructure; and

(D)other capital investment requirements with respect to the Readjustment Counseling Service, including Vet Centers, mobile Vet Centers, and community access points.

United States Government work; public domain under 17 U.S.C. § 105.

Defined terms · 16

Show every defined term

appropriate committees of Congress
means—
appropriate congressional committees
has the meaning given that term in section 7310A(h) of this title.
burn pit
means an area of land that—
contractor
includes subcontractors of any tier under a contract containing an indemnification provision pursuant to subsection (a).
controlled substance
has the meaning given that term in section 102 of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 802).
education
includes education and training and means the following:
epilepsy center of excellence
means a health care facility that has (or in the foreseeable future can develop) the necessary capacity to function as a center of excellence in research, education, and clinical care activities in the diagnosis and treatment of epilepsy and has (or may reasonably be anticipated to develop) each of the following:
facility of the Department
has the meaning given the term “facilities of the Department” in section 1701(3) of this title.
gender-specific services
means mammography, obstetric care, gynecological care, and such other services as the Secretary determines appropriate.
health care employee of the Administration
means a physician, dentist, podiatrist, chiropractor, optometrist, nurse, physician assistant, expanded-function dental auxiliary, pharmacist, or paramedical (such as medical and dental technicians, nursing assistants, and therapists), or other supporting personnel.
mammogram
has the meaning given such term in paragraph (5) of section 354(a) of the Public Health Service Act.
medical research
means medical research described in section 7303(a)(2) of this title.
preventive health services
has the meaning given such term in section 1701(9) of this title.
representative
means an individual, organization, or other body authorized under section 7331 of this title and its implementing regulations to give informed consent on behalf of a patient who lacks decision-making capacity.
Vet Center
has the meaning given the term in section 1712A(h)(1) of this title.
Veterans Equitable Resource Allocation system
means the resource allocation system established pursuant to section 429 of the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development, and Independent Agencies Appropriations Act, 1997 (Public Law 104–204;