Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 113 Part 1.djvu/721

 PUBLIC LAW 106-65—OCT. 5, 1999 113 STAT. 697 (A) The ability of the medical informatics systems at the Department of Defense and Department of Veterans Affairs to monitor, evaluate, and improve the quality of care provided to beneficiaries. (B) The coordination of key components of medical informatics systems, including digital patient records, both within the Federal Government and between the Federal Government and the private sector. (C) The development of operational capabilities for executive information systems and clinical decision support systems within the Department of Defense and Department of Veterans Affairs. (D) Standardization of processes used to collect, evaluate, and disseminate health care quality information. (E) Refinement of methodologies by which the quality of health care provided within the Department of Defense and Department of Veterans Affairs is evaluated. (F) Protecting the confidentiality of personal health information. (4) The Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs shall consult with the Committee on the issues described in paragraph (3). (5) The Secretary of Defense shall submit to Congress an annual report on the activities of the Committee and on the coordination of development, deployment, and maintenance of health care informatics systems within the Federal Government, and between the Federal Government and the private sector. (6) Members of the Committee shall not be paid by reason of their service on the Committee. (7) The Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply to the Committee. (e) ANNUAL REPORT. —The Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs shall submit to Congress on an annual basis a report on the quality of health care furnished under the health care programs of the Department of Defense. The report shall cover the most recent fiscal year ending before the date the report is submitted and shall contain a discussion of the quality of the health care measured on the basis of each statistical and customer satisfaction factor that the Assistant Secretary determines appropriate, including, at a minimum, a discussion of the following: (1) Health outcomes. (2) The extent of use of health report cards. (3) The extent of use of standard clinical pathways. (4) The extent of use of innovative processes for surveillance. SEC. 724. JOINT TELEMEDICINE AND TELEPHARMACY DEMONSTRA- 10 USC 1092 TION PROJECTS BY THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE AND note. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS. (a) IN GENERAL.— The Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs may carry out joint demonstration projects for purposes of evaluating the feasibility and practicability of using telecommunications to provide health care services and pharmacy services. (b) SERVICES TO BE PROVIDED.— The services provided under the demonstration projects may include the following: (1) Radiology and imaging services.

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