Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 115 Part 3.djvu/377

 PUBLIC LAW 107-135—JAN. 23, 2002 115 STAT. 2451 SEC. 122. UNUSED SICK LEAVE INCLUDED IN ANNUITY COMPUTATION OF REGISTERED NURSES WITHIN THE VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION. (a) ANNUITY COMPUTATION. —Section 8415 of title 5, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: "(i) In computing an annuity under this subchapter, the total service of an employee who retires from the position of a registered nurse with the Veterans Health Administration on an immediate annuity, or dies while employed in that position leaving any survivor entitled to an annuity, includes the days of unused sick leave to the credit of that employee under a formal leave system, except that such days shall not be counted in determining average pay or annuity eligibility under this subchapter.". (b) DEPOSIT NOT REQUIRED.—Section 8422(d) of such title is amended— (1) by inserting "(1)" before "Under such regulations"; and (2) by adding at the end the following: "(2) Deposit may not be required for days of unused sick leave credited under section 8415(i).". (c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by this section shall take effect 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act and shall apply to individuals who separate from service on or after that effective date. SEC. 123. EVALUATION OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS NURSE MANAGED CLINICS. Applicability. 5 USC 8415 note. 38 USC 7311 note. (a) EVALUATION. — The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall carry out an evaluation of the efficacy of the nurse managed health care clinics of the Department of Veterans Affairs. The Secretary Deadline, shall complete the evaluation not later than 18 months after the date of the enactment of this Act. (b) CLINICS TO BE EVALUATED. —(1) In carrying out the evaluation under subsection (a), the Secretary shall consider nurse managed health care clinics, including primary care clinics and geriatric care clinics, located in three different geographic service areas of the Department. (2) If there are not nurse managed health care clinics located in three different geographic service areas as of the commencement of the evaluation, the Secretary shall— (A) establish nurse managed health care clinics in additional geographic service areas such that there are nurse managed health care clinics in three different geographic service areas for purposes of the evaluation; and (B) include such clinics, as so established, in the evaluation. (c) MATTERS TO BE EVALUATED. — In carrying out the evaluation under subsection (a), the Secretary shall address the following: (1) Patient satisfaction. (2) Provider experiences. (3) Cost of care. (4) Access to care, including waiting time for care. (5) The functional status of patients receiving care. (6) Any other matters the Secretary considers appropriate. (d) REPORT. — Not later than 18 months after the date of the Deadline, enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the House of Representatives a report on the evaluation carried out under subsection (a). The

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