Qualifications of health care providers who perform sexual assault examinations at certain Department of Veterans Affairs medical facilities

(a) In general The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall employ, at each hospital and urgent care facility of the Department of Veterans Affairs— (1) at least one sexual assault nurse examiner; or (2) if the Secretary cannot so employ a sexual assault nurse examiner, a health care provider qualified to conduct a sexual assault forensic examination. (b) Mental health care referral After examining an individual for sexual assault, a health care provider of the Department shall verbally refer the individual to mental health care services furnished by the Secretary— (1) in a hospital of the Department; or (2) pursuant to a Veterans Care Agreement under section 1703A of title 38, United States Code, if the wait time for services described in paragraph (1) exceeds 30 days. (c) Dedicated responsibilities In carrying out this section, the Secretary shall ensure that there is no reduction in, or negative effect on, the patient care responsibilities that are otherwise carried out by employees of the Department. (d) Definitions In this section, the terms sexual assault nurse examiner and sexual assault forensic examination have the meanings given such terms in section 304(a) of the DNA Sexual Assault Justice Act of 2004 (34 U.S.C. 40723(a)).