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H.R. 568 111th Congress House

Veterans Health Care Quality Improvement Act

Official title: To amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the quality of care provided to veterans in Department of Veterans Affairs medical facilities, to encourage h… Show full official titleShow less

Official title: To amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the quality of care provided to veterans in Department of Veterans Affairs medical facilities, to encourage highly qualified doctors to serve in hard-to-fill positions in such medical facilities, and for other purposes.

Introduced: January 15, 2009 See on congress.gov
Armed Forces and National Security Civil actions and liabilityDepartment of Veterans AffairsGovernment employee pay, benefits, personnel managementHealth care costs and insurance
More subjectsShow fewer subjects
Health care qualityHealth facilities and institutionsHealth personnelLicensing and registrationsStudent aid and college costsVeterans' medical care
This bill died when the 111th Congress ended
It never became law before the 111th Congress (2009–2010) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 5 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jan 16, 2009
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Jan 15, 2009
Referred to House Oversight and Government Reform
Jan 15, 2009
Referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Jan 15, 2009
Referred to House Veterans' Affairs
Jan 15, 2009
Introduced in House
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 Latest action January 16, 2009

Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Veterans Health Care Quality Improvement Act - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to prescribe standards for appointment and practice as a physician within the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Requires: (1) applicants to provide certain information, including each lawsuit, civil action, or other claim against the individual for medical malpractice or negligence, and their results; (2) each appointee to disclose any judgments against the individual for medical malpractice or negligence and any payments made; and (3) physicians already employed within the VHA to disclose such information. Prohibits a new appointment without approval of the director of the Veterans Integrated Services Network (Network) in which the individual will serve. Directs the Secretary to encourage directors to hire physicians who are board-eligible or board-certified.

Requires: (1) the VHA's Under Secretary of Health to designate a National Quality Assurance Officer for the VHA quality assurance program; (2) each Network regional director to appoint a quality assurance officer; and (3) the director of each VHA medical facility to appoint a quality assurance officer.

Directs the Secretary to review VA policies for maintaining health care quality and patient safety at VA medical facilities.

Requires the Secretary, in order to recruit and retain VHA physicians in hard-to-fill positions, to: (1) repay certain educational loans for individuals who agree to serve for at least three years as a VHA physician; (2) reimburse tuition for medical students who agree to serve as a VHA physician after such education; and (3) enroll in the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program an individual who agrees to serve as a VHA physician for at least five days per month. Encourages the Secretary to undertake additional incentives to encourage individuals to serve or practice as VHA physicians.

 Related & companion bills 1
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 3
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 568: Veterans Health Care Quality Improvement Act. 111th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/111-HR-568/
MLA
"H.R. 568: Veterans Health Care Quality Improvement Act." 111th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/111-HR-568/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 568, 111th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/111-HR-568/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 568: Veterans Health Care Quality Improvement Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/111-HR-568/)
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