PUBLIC LAW 104-262—OCT. 9, 1996 110 STAT. 3195 Subtitle B—Care of Women Veterans SEC. 321. MAMMOGRAPHY QUAUTY STANDARDS. (a) IN GENERAL.— (1) Subchapter II of chapter 73 is amended by adding after section 7318 the following new section: "§ 7319. Mammography quality standards "(a) A mammogram may not be performed at a Department facility unless that facility is accredited for that purpose by a private nonprofit organization designated by the Secretary. An organization designated by the Secretary under this subsection shall meet the standards for accrediting bodies established under subsection (e) of section 354 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 263b). "(b) The Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Hesdth and Human Services, shall prescribe quality assurance and quality control standards relating to the pertbrmance and interpretation of mammograms and use of mammogram equipment and facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs consistent with the requirements of section 354(f)(l) of the Public Health Service Act. Such standards shall be no less stringent than the standards prescribed by the Secretary of Health and Human Services under section 354(f) of the Public Health Service Act. "(c)(l) The Secretary, to ensure compliance with the standards prescribed under subsection (b), shall provide for an annual inspection of the equipment and facilities used by and in Department health care facilities for the performance of mammograms. Such inspections shall be carried out in a manner consistent with the inspection of certified facilities by the Secretary of Health and Human Services under section 354(g) of the Public Health Service Act. "(2) The Secretary may not provide for an inspection under paragraph (1) to be performed by a State agency. ^d) The Secretary shall ensure that mammograms performed for the Department under contract with any non-Department facility or provider conform to the quality standards prescribed by the Secretary of Health and Human Services under section 354 of the Public Health Service Act. "(e) For the purposes of this section, the term 'mammogram' has the meaning given such term in paragraph (5) of section 354(a) of the Public Health Service Act.". (2) The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 7318 the following new item: "7319. Mammography quality standards.". (b) DEADLINE FOR PRESCRIBING STANDARDS. —The Secretary of 38 USC 7319 Veterems Affairs shall prescribe standards under subsection (b) ^ote. of section 7319 of title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), not later than the end of the 120-day period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act. (c) IMPLEMENTATION REPORT. —The Secretary shall submit to 38 USC 7319 the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and House note. of Representatives a report on the Secretary's implementation of section 7319 of title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection (a). The report shall be submitted not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.
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