ECHO Act

I 116TH CONGRESS 2D SESSION H. R. 8212 To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct studies on alternative work schedules for employees of the Veterans Health Administration, and for other matters. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES SEPTEMBER 11, 2020 Mr. CUNNINGHAM (for himself and Mr. BANKS) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs A BILL To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct stud- ies on alternative work schedules for employees of the Veterans Health Administration, and for other matters. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa- 1 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 2 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 3 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘VA Expanded Care 4 Hours Act’’ or the ‘‘ECHO Act’’. 5 SEC. 2. STUDIES ON ALTERNATIVE WORK SCHEDULES FOR 6 EMPLOYEES OF VETERANS HEALTH ADMINIS- 7 TRATION. 8 (a) STUDY OF VETERANS.— 9 VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:01 Sep 15, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H8212.IH H8212 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 2 •HR 8212 IH (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days 1 after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Sec- 2 retary of Veterans Affairs shall conduct a study on 3 the attitudes of eligible veterans toward the Depart- 4 ment of Veterans Affairs offering appointments out- 5 side the usual operating hours of facilities of the De- 6 partment, including through the use of telehealth 7 appointments. 8 (2) ELIGIBLE VETERAN DEFINED.—In this sub- 9 section, the term ‘‘eligible veteran’’ means a veteran 10 who— 11 (A) is enrolled in the patient enrollment 12 system of the Department under section 13 1705(a) of title 38, United States Code; and 14 (B) received health care from the Depart- 15 ment at least once during the two-year period 16 ending on the date of the commencement of the 17 study under paragraph (1). 18 (b) DEPARTMENT STUDY.— 19 (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days 20 after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Sec- 21 retary shall conduct a study on the feasibility and 22 advisability of offering appointments outside the 23 usual operating hours of facilities of the Depart- 24 ment. 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:01 Sep 15, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H8212.IH H8212 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 3 •HR 8212 IH (2) STUDY OF EMPLOYEES.—The study re- 1 quired by paragraph (1) shall include a study of the 2 opinions of employees of the Veterans Health Ad- 3 ministration, including clinical, nonclinical, and sup- 4 port staff, with respect to offering appointments out- 5 side the usual operating hours of facilities of the De- 6 partment, including through the use of telehealth 7 appointments. 8 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:01 Sep 15, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\H8212.IH H8212 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS