The House has passed HR-3956, to require the VA to develop and implement a plan to hire directors at each medical center that lacks a permanent director, prioritize hiring for facilities that have been without permanent leadership for the longest times, and submit semiannual reports to the Congress on vacant positions.
VA has said that it already has such a plan in place and is working aggressively to hire new directors; vacancies in those senior positions have been among the ongoing management issues at the department.
In addition, the bill would require VA to ensure that each director of a medical facility annually certify that the facility is complying with the laws and regulations pertaining to scheduling medical appointments, putting into law an internal departmental policy.
The bill also would require VA to ensure the directives and policies are being implemented in a uniform manner and prohibit paying bonuses to senior staff if they fail to comply.
