110 STAT. 3196 PUBLIC LAW 104-262—OCT. 9, 1996 38 USC 1710 SEC. 322. PATIENT PRIVACY FOR WOMEN PATIENTS. TM*^' (a) IDENTIFICATION OF DEFICIENCIES. —The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall conduct a survey of each medical center under the jurisdiction of the Secretary to identify deficiencies relating to patient privacy Eifforded to women patients in the clinical areas at each such center which may interfere with appropriate treatment of such patients. (b) CORRECTION OF DEFICIENCIES. —The Secretary shall ensure that plans and, where appropriate, interim steps to correct the deficiencies identified in the survey conducted under subsection (a) are developed and are incorporated into the Department's construction planning processes and, in cases in which it is costeffective to do so, are given a high priority. (c) REPORTS TO CONGRESS. — The Secretary shall compile an annual inventory, by medical center, of deficiencies identified under subsection (a) and of plans and, where appropriate, interim steps, to correct such deficiencies. The Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives, not later than October 1, 1997, and not later than October 1 each year thereafter through 1999 a report on such deficiencies. The Secretary shall include in such report the inventory compiled by the Secretary, the proposed corrective plans, and the status of such plans. 38 USC 318 note. SEC. 323. ASSESSMENT OF USE BY WOMEN VETERANS OF DEPARTMENT HEALTH SERVICES. (a) REPORTS TO UNDER SECRETARY FOR HEALTH. —The Center for Women Veterans of the Department of Veterans Affairs (established under section 509 of Public Law 103-446), in consultation with the Advisory Committee on Women Veterans, shall assess the use by women veterans of health services through the Department of Veterans Affairs, including counseling for sexual trauma and mental health services. The Center shall submit to the Under Secretary for Health of the Department of Veterans Affairs a report not later than April 1, 1997, and April 1 of each of the two following years, on— (1) the extent to which women veterans described in paragraphs (1) and (2) of section 1710(a) of title 38, United States Code, fail to seek, or face barriers in seeking, health services through the Department, and the reasons therefor; and J (2) recommendations, if indicated, for encouraging greater use of such services, including (if appropriate) public service announcements and other outreach efforts. (b) REPORTS TO CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES.— Not later than July 1, 1997, and July 1 of each of the two following years, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives a report containing— (1) the most recent report of the Center for Women Veterans under subsection (a); (2) the views of the Under Secretary for Health on such report's findings and recommendations; and (3) a description of the steps being taken by the Secretary to remedy any problems described in the report.
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