Review of dialysis care furnished by Department of Veterans Affairs

(a) Review by the Office of Inspector General (1) In general Not later than 18 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Inspector General of the Department of Veterans Affairs shall conduct an investigation and publish a report on the quality and availability of dialysis care provided at facilities of the Department or authorized by the Department to be provided through non-Department providers. (2) Input The review required under paragraph (1) shall consider input from key stakeholders of the Department, including veterans service organizations and labor organizations representing staff of the Department and staff of non-Department providers. (3) Assessment The review required by paragraph (1) shall include an assessment of— (A) facilities of the Department that provide dialysis care, including an assessment of— (i) the capacity and utilization of such facilities; (ii) the staffing and vacancy levels for providing such care; and (iii) the volume of dialysis care provided to veterans via non-Department providers in the catchment area of such facilities; and (B) non-Department facilities and providers that are authorized to and have provided dialysis care to veterans via an agreement with the Department, including an assessment of— (i) conformance with required standards of care prescribed by the Department; (ii) patient safety; (iii) compliance in general with the law; (iv) staffing levels; (v) changes in access to and utilization of care by veterans related to staffing levels and patient capacity of such facility; (vi) billing practices for care authorized by the Department; and (vii) such other topics as the Inspector General determines appropriate. (4) Recommendations Not later than 120 days after the publication of the report under paragraph (1), and not less frequently than quarterly thereafter until all recommendations contained in such report are closed by the Inspector General of the Department, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 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 of such recommendations. (b) Contract enforcement (1) In general Any violation of any contract or agreement with the Department of Veterans Affairs or violation of the law by a non-Department entity found by the review conducted under subsection (a) shall be immediately and expeditiously remedied by the Secretary and any obligations under any such contract or agreement, or pursuant to such law, including any penalties, shall be immediately and expeditiously enforced by the Department. (2) Follow-up Not later than one year after the publication of the report under subsection (a)(1), the Inspector General of the Department of Veterans Affairs shall— (A) conduct a follow-up review containing any findings and recommendations related to violations described in paragraph (1); and (B) submit to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate, and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives a report on any ongoing violations. (3) Financial penalties After receipt of the report under paragraph (2)(B), the Secretary shall impose financial penalties commensurate with the level and quantity of violations until those violations are resolved.