DEMONSTRATION PROJECT TO EVALUATE INSTALLATION OF TELEPHONES FOR PATIENT USE AT DEPARTMENT HEALTH-CARE FACILITIES.

SEC. 525. DEMONSTRATION PROJECT TO EVALUATE INSTALLATION OF TELEPHONES FOR PATIENT USE AT DEPARTMENT HEALTH-CARE FACILITIES. (a) Demonstration Project.— The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall carry out a demonstration project to evaluate— (1) the feasibility and desirability of (A) providing telephone service in patient rooms in Department of Veterans Affairs health-care facilities which do not currently provide such service, and (B) the use of telephones by the patients of such health-care facilities; and (2) the relative feasibility and cost-effectiveness of a variety of options for providing such service. (b) Project Activities.— (1) In carrying out the demonstration project under this section, the Secretary shall, at an appropriate number (as determined by the Secretary) of health care facilities, provide patients reasonable access to telephone service in patients’ rooms to the extent feasible, and subject to paragraph (2). (2) The Secretary shall ensure that patients who use such telephones bear financial responsibility for the cost of any long distance telephone calls made during such use. (c) Project Evaluation.— In carrying out the evaluation under subsection (a), the Secretary shall determine— (1) the cost of the installation, use, and maintenance of such telephones, including— (A) the amount of any savings which accrue to the facility by reason of such installation £uid use (including the amount of any savings that may result from any decrease in the amount of assistance in using telephones that the staff of the facility would otherwise provide to patients); and (B) any costs that result from providing special telephones or other special equipment to facilitate the use of telephones by disabled veterans; and (2) the effect of the use of such telephones on the therapeutic course of veterans who receive care at the facility; and (3) the relative feasibility and cost effectiveness of a range of options for providing access to telephone service, including— (A) the expenditure of appropriated funds; (B) the receipt of donated funds, equipment, and services; and (C) the procuring of equipment and services by the Veterans Canteen Service. (d) Report.— Not later than September 30, 1994, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the House of Representatives a report on the demonstration project. The report shall contain the following: (1) The determinations of the Secretary under sub section (c). 106 STAT. 4961 (2) An assessment by the Secretary of the feasibility and desirability of providing telephones for patients in other health care facilities of the Department. (3) The experience of the Secretary in using, and an assessment by the Secretary of the feasibility and cost effectiveness of, alternative arrangements to the expenditure of appropriated finds for securing telephone service for patients in health care facilities of the Department. (4) Any additional information and recommendations with respect to the provision and use of patient telephones at Department health-care facilities as the Secretary considers appropriate.