PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans Affairs.
Congressional Research Service
Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Nov 18, 1999
Veterans Health Care Quality Assurance Act of 1999 - Expresses the sense of Congress that the Secretary of Veterans Affairs should: (1) require the directors of the Department of Veterans Affairs health care networks to systematically share information on maximizing resources and increasing efficiency without compromising quality of care and patient satisfaction; (2) require exchange and mentoring programs to facilitate such sharing; (3) provide incentives to increase efficiency and meet quality and patient satisfaction goals; and (4) institute a formal oversight process to meet such goals.Requires the Department's Inspector General, at least every three years, to audit the quality of health care furnished by each Department health care network and facility.Directs the Secretary to provide for the dissemination and sharing with Department health care networks of information designed to ensure efficiency in the provision of health care to veterans. Requires the Secretary to: (1) annually issue efficiency goals and quality and patient satisfaction standards for each Department health care facility; and (2) report annually to Congress on the extent to which the Department met such goals and standards.Establishes within the Department the Office of Health Care Quality Assurance, headed by a Director, to ensure the establishment and implementation of efficiency goals and quality and patient satisfaction standards throughout the Department. Expresses the sense of Congress that such Director should act as an advocate for veterans in receiving quality health care.Requires a report from the Secretary to Congress on efficiencies in the furnishing of health care to veterans in Department health care networks and facilities.
People & committees
Sen. Snowe, Olympia J. [R-ME] · R–ME
Legislative record
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Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans Affairs.
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S14809-14810)
Introduced in Senate
Primary sources
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Source last updated: Aug 20, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
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