Description:
H.R. 5399 would require physicians employed by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to report unethical health care practices that take place at VA medical facilities to the appropriate state licensing authority within five days of occurrence. The bill also would require VA to inform physicians of that responsibility.
Under current law, VA monitors and evaluates the quality of health care through its quality-assurance program. Under that program, physicians may confidentially submit reports of unethical practices that they witness. CBO expects that VA would distribute information about the new reporting requirement through electronic correspondence. As a result, CBO estimates that implementing H.R. 5399 would have insignificant costs for administrative activities over the 2017-2021 period; that spending would be subject to the availability of appropriated funds.
Enacting the legislation would not affect direct spending or revenues; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply.
CBO estimates that enacting H.R. 5399 would not increase net direct spending or on-budget deficits in any of the four consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2027.
H.R. 5399 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act and would impose no costs on state, local, or tribal governments.
