IMPROVED TRANSPARENCY OF, ACCESS TO, AND USABILITY OF DATA PROVIDED BY DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

SEC. 195. IMPROVED TRANSPARENCY OF, ACCESS TO, AND USABILITY OF DATA PROVIDED BY DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.(a) Review of Timeliness and Quality of Care Data.—(1) In general.—Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall complete a review of data that is publicly available on the Access to Care internet website of the Department of Veterans Affairs (or successor website)) (in this section referred to as the “Website”). (2) Analysis.—The review under paragraph (1) shall include an analysis of the access to and usability of the publicly available data on the Website, including a review of the availability of the following data:(A) Any numeric indicators relating to timely care, effective care, safety, and veteran-centered care that the Secretary collects at medical facilities of the Department pursuant to section 1703C of title 38, United States Code. (B) The patient wait times information required by subsection (a) of section 206 of the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 (Public Law 113–146; 128 Stat. 1780); and (C) the patient safety, quality of care, and outcome measures required by subsection (b) of such section 206. (3) Consultation.—In conducting the review under paragraph (1) of data described in such paragraph, the Secretary shall consult with veterans service organizations, veterans, and caregivers of veterans from geographically diverse areas and representing different eras of service in the Armed Forces to gather insights about potential modifications that could help improve the understanding and use of such data. (4) Report.—Not later than 30 days after completing the review under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall submit to the 136 STAT. 5445 Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives a report on the outcome of the review, including an assessment of how the Secretary plans to modify the presentation of data described in such paragraph in light of the findings of the review. (b) Requirements of Website.—(1) In general.—Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, in addition to the requirements of section 206(b)(4) of the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 (Public Law 113–146; 128 Stat. 1781), the Secretary shall ensure that the Website meets the following requirements:(A) The Website is directly accessible from—(i) the main homepage of the publicly accessible internet website of the Department; and (ii) the main homepage of the publicly accessible internet website of each medical center of the Department. (B) Where practicable, the Website is organized and searchable by each medical center of the Department. (C) The Website is easily understandable and usable by the general public. (2) Consultation and contract authority.—In carrying out the requirements of paragraph (1)(C), the Secretary—(A) shall consult with—(i) veterans service organizations; and (ii) veterans and caregivers of veterans from geographically diverse areas and representing different eras of service in the Armed Forces; and (B) may enter into a contract to design the Website with a company, non-profit entity, or other entity specializing in website design that has substantial experience in presenting health care data and information in a easily understandable and usable manner to patients and consumers. (c) Accuracy of Data.—(1) Annual process.—Not later than 18 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall develop and implement a process to annually audit a generalizable subset of the data contained on the Website to assess the accuracy and completeness of the data. (2) Criteria.—The Secretary shall ensure that each audit under paragraph (1)—(A) determines the extent that the medical record information, clinical information, data, and documentation provided by each medical facility of the Department that is used to calculate the information on the Website is accurate and complete; (B) identifies any deficiencies in the recording of medical record information, clinical information, or data by medical facilities of the Department that affects the accuracy and completeness of the information on the Website; and (C) provides recommendations to medical facilities of the Department on how to—136 STAT. 5446(i) improve the accuracy and completeness of the medical record information, clinical information, data, and documentation that is used to calculate the information on the Website; and (ii) ensure that each medical facility of the Department provides such information in a uniform manner. (3) Annual report.—Not later than two years after the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, 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 findings of each audit under paragraph (1).