Senate advances Ernst’s bipartisan bill to bolster VA-hired providers’ healthcare

The U.S. Senate on June 30 unanimously approved the bipartisan Ensuring Quality Care for Our Veterans Act, sponsored by U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA).

“During these trying times in our nation, getting this commonsense, bipartisan bill unanimously through the Senate provides a glimmer of hope for our veterans and their families,” Sen. Ernst said on July 1.

If enacted, S. 123 would direct the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to contract with a non-federal organization to conduct a quality management review of hospital care or medical services furnished by each Veterans Health Administration provider that has a license terminated by a state licensing board based upon care or services provided in a non-VHA facility.

If the review determines that the standard of care was not met, the VA would be required to notify the individual who received such care or services, according to the congressional record summary.

Sen. Ernst unveiled S. 123 in January 2019 with cosponsors U.S. Sens. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) and Chris Coons (D-DE) to ensure proper care and treatment of America’s war heroes from VA providers, particularly those having a history of substandard care, according to the senator’s office.

“Whether at a VA facility in Iowa or anywhere across the country, my fellow veterans deserve the best quality care possible — it’s the least we can do for these war heroes,” said Sen. Ernst. “Part of this effort is ensuring those treating our nation’s veterans are thoroughly vetted and are providing proper treatment and care.”

The legislation would require that every healthcare provider hired by VA with a revoked license undergoes a third-party review of that provider’s care, according to a bill summary provided by Sen. Ernst’s office, which noted that if the review determines that a competent practitioner would have managed the veteran’s care differently, the veteran would be notified.

S. 123 on July 1 was received for consideration in the U.S. House of Representatives, which already is reviewing the identical bill, H.R. 4858, introduced in October 2019 by U.S. Reps. Ralph Norman (R-NC) and Richard Hudson (R-NC).