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.
Ǥ 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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