House bill would standardize vendor credentials at all VA medical centers

U.S. Reps. Jackie Walorski (R-IN) and Tim Walz (D-MN), both members of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, introduced legislation late last week that would provide more efficient health care to America’s veterans.

The VA Vendor Verification Act (H.R. 3422) would clear up confusion and establish a defined framework in terms of how medical vendors should operate within VA Medical Centers (VAMCs).

Health care industry representatives, also referred to as vendors, are a critical part of the health care system, providing important technical assistance for nurses and doctors in clinical settings and operating rooms. Providing care to almost 9 million veterans each year, the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) requires each VAMC to develop vendor-access procedures, which create confusion in medical centers nationwide. A 2014 GAO report uncovered inconsistent procedures and policies regarding vendor access and the level of patient care across the numerous VAMCs across the nation.

“I want to thank Rep. Walz for working with me to ensure our veterans receive the highest standard of care,” Walorski said. “Medical vendors play an important role in providing critical assistance to doctors and staff to ensure medical procedures are done properly. Unfortunately, each VAMC develops individual guidelines with almost no direction from the main VHA office. That has created a patchwork of policies and lead to instances of inappropriate vendor involvement in procedures at the VA. This legislation will improve patient care for veterans and provide consistency for health care industry representatives working within the VHA and focus on what matters most – providing care to our veterans.”

Essentially, the VA Vendor Verification Act would require the VHA to implement a set of consistent vendor-credentialing standards that would be recommended by the Coalition for Best Practices in Health Care Industry Representatives (HCIR).

“This bill will hold VA venders to the same standards used at the world-renowned Mayo Clinic,” Walz said. “I’m pleased to work with my colleague, Rep. Walorski, on this common-sense legislation to bring uniformity to the VA vendor credentialing process.”