STAFFING LEVELS FOR OPERATIONS OF MEDICAL FACILITIES.

SEC. 124. STAFFING LEVELS FOR OPERATIONS OF MEDICAL FACILITIES. (a) In General.—Section 8110(a) is amended— (1) in paragraph (1), by inserting after “complete care of patients,” in the fifth sentence the following: “and in a manner consistent with the policies of the Secretary on overtime,”; and (2) in paragraph (2)— (A) by inserting “, including the staffing required to maintain such capacities,” after “all Department medical facilities”; (B) by striking “and to minimize” and inserting “, to minimize”; and (C) by inserting before the period the following: “, and to ensure that eligible veterans are provided such care and services in an appropriate manner”. (b) Nationwide Policy on Staffing.—Paragraph (3) of that section is amended— (1) in subparagraph (A), by inserting “the adequacy of staff levels for compliance with the policy established under subparagraph (C),” after “regarding”; and (2) by inserting after subparagraph (B) the following new subparagraph: “(C) The Secretary shall, in consultation with the Under Secretary for Health, establish a nationwide policy on the staffing of Department medical facilities in order to ensure that such facilities have adequate staff for the provision to veterans of appropriate, high-quality care and services. The policy shall take into account the staffing levels and mixture of staff skills required for the range of care and services provided veterans in Department facilities.”.