[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1848 Reported in House (RH)]
<DOC>
Union Calendar No. 99
115th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1848
[Report No. 115-151]
To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot
program on the use of medical scribes in Department of Veterans Affairs
medical centers.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
April 3, 2017
Mr. Roe of Tennessee (for himself, Mr. Walden, and Mr. Higgins of
Louisiana) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Veterans' Affairs
May 23, 2017
Additional sponsor: Mr. Young of Iowa
May 23, 2017
Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union
and ordered to be printed
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot
program on the use of medical scribes in Department of Veterans Affairs
medical centers.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Veterans Affairs Medical Scribe
Pilot Act of 2017''.
SEC. 2. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS MEDICAL SCRIBE PILOT PROGRAM.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall carry out
a two-year pilot program under which the Secretary shall increase the
use of medical scribes at Department of Veterans Affairs medical
centers.
(b) Locations.--The Secretary shall carry out the pilot program at
the 10 medical centers of the Department as follows:
(1) At least four such medical centers located in rural
areas.
(2) At least four such medical centers located in urban
areas.
(3) Two such medical centers located in areas with need for
increased access or increased efficiency, as determine by the
Secretary.
(c) Medical Scribes.--
(1) Hiring.--Under the pilot program the Secretary shall--
(A) hire 20 new Department of Veterans Affairs term
employees as medical scribes; and
(B) seek to enter into contracts with appropriate
entities for the employment of 20 additional medical
scribes.
(2) Distribution.--The Secretary shall assign four medical
scribes to each of the 10 medical centers of the Department
where the Secretary carries out the pilot program as follows:
(A) Two scribes shall be assigned to each of two
physicians.
(B) Thirty percent of the scribes shall be employed
in the provision of emergency care.
(C) Seventy percent of the scribes shall be
employed in the provision of speciality care in
specialties with the longest patient wait times or
lowest efficiency ratings, as determined by the
Secretary.
(d) Reports.--
(1) Reports to congress.--Not later than 180 days after the
commencement of the pilot program required under this section,
and every 180 days thereafter for the duration of the pilot
program, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to
Congress a report on the pilot program. Each such report shall
include each of the following:
(A) A separate analysis of each the following with
respect to medical scribes employed by the Department
of Veterans Affairs and medical scribes performing
Department of Veterans Affairs functions under a
contract:
(i) Provider efficiency.
(ii) Patient satisfaction.
(iii) Average wait time.
(iv) The number of patients seen per day by
each physician or practitioner.
(v) The amount of time required to hire and
train an employee to perform medical scribe
functions under the pilot program.
(B) Metrics and data for analyzing the effects of
the pilot program, including an evaluation of the each
of the elements under clauses (i) through (iv) of
subparagraph (A) at medical centers who employed
scribes under the pilot program for an appropriate
period preceding the hiring of such scribes.
(2) Comptroller general report.--Not later than 90 days
after the termination of the pilot program under this section,
the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to
Congress a report on the pilot program. Such report shall
include a comparison of the pilot program with similar programs
carried out in the private sector.
(e) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) The term ``medical scribe'' means an unlicensed
individual hired to enter information into the electronic
health record or chart at the direction of a physician or
licensed independent practitioner whose responsibilities
include the following:
(A) Assisting the physician or practitioner in
navigating the electronic health record.
(B) Responding to various messages as directed by
the physician or practitioner.
(C) Entering information into the electronic health
record, as directed by the physician or practitioner.
(2) The terms ``urban'' and ``rural'' have the meanings
given such terms under the rural-urban commuting codes
developed by the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of
Health and Human Services.
(f) Funding.--The pilot program under this section shall be carried
out using amounts otherwise authorized to be appropriated for the
Department of Veterans Affairs. No additional amounts are authorized to
be appropriated to carry out such program.
Union Calendar No. 99
115th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1848
[Report No. 115-151]
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot
program on the use of medical scribes in Department of Veterans Affairs
medical centers.
_______________________________________________________________________
May 23, 2017
Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union
and ordered to be printed