Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 113 Part 3.djvu/67

 PUBLIC LAW 106-117—NOV. 30, 1999 113 STAT. 1585 TITLE VIII—DEPARTMENT OF VET- ERANS AFFAIRS ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS SEC. 801. ENHANCED QUALITY ASSURANCE PROGRAM WITHIN THE VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION. (a) IN GENERAL.—(1) Chapter 77 is amended by adding at the end the following new subchapter: " SUBCHAPTER III—QUALITY ASSURANCE '' § 7731. Establishment "(a) The Secretary shall carry out a quality assurance program in the Veterans Benefits Administration. The program may be carried out through a single quality assurance division in the Administration or through separate quality sissurance entities for each of the principal organizational elements (known as 'services') of the Administration. "(b) The Secretary shall ensure that any quality assurance entity established and operated under subsection (a) is established and operated so as to meet generally applicable; governmental standards for independence and internal controls for the performance of quality reviews of Government performance and results. "§ 7732. Functions "The Under Secretary for Benefits, acting through the quality assurance entities established under section 7731(a), shall on an ongoing basis perform and oversee quality re\dews of the functions of each of the principal organizational elements of the Veterans Benefits Administration. «§ 7733. Personnel "The Secretary shall ensure that the number of full-time employees of the Veterans Benefits Administration assigned to quality assurance functions under this subchapter is adequate to perform the quality assurance functions for which they have responsibility. "§ 7734. Annual report to Congress "The Secretary shall include in the annual report to the Congress required by section 529 of this title a report on the quality assurance activities carried out under this subchapter. Each such report shall include— "(1) an appraisal of the quality of services provided by the Veterans Benefits Administration, including— "(A) the number of decisions reviewed; "(B) a summary of the findings on the decisions reviewed; "(C) the number of full-time equivalent employees assigned to quality assurance in each division or entity; "(D) specific documentation of compliance with the standards for independence and internal control required by section 7731(b) of this title; and "(E) actions taken to improve the quality of services provided and the results obtained;

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