PUBLIC LAW 109–461—DEC. 22, 2006
120 STAT. 3421
‘‘(A) the number of veterans authorized to be in beds in State homes in such State under regulations prescribed under section 8134(a) of this title; and ‘‘(B) the number of veterans actually in beds in State homes (other than facilities or certain beds treated as State homes under subsection (a)) in such State under regulations prescribed under such section. ‘‘(d) The number of beds in a health facility in a State that has been treated as a State home under subsection (a) shall be taken into account in determining the unmet need for beds for State homes for the State under section 8134(d)(1) of this title. ‘‘(e) The Secretary may not treat any new health facilities (or any new certain beds in a health facility) as a State home under subsection (a) after September 30, 2009.’’. (2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 8137 the following new item: ‘‘8138. Treatment of certain health facilities as State homes.’’. SEC. 212. OFFICE OF RURAL HEALTH.
(a) IN GENERAL.— (1) ESTABLISHMENT AND FUNCTIONS.—Chapter 73 is amended by inserting after section 7307 the following new section: ‘‘§ 7308. Office of Rural Health ‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established in the Department within the Office of the Under Secretary for Health an office to be known as the ‘Office of Rural Health’ (in this section referred to as the ‘Office’). ‘‘(b) HEAD.—The Director of the Office of Rural Health shall be the head of the Office. The Director of the Office of Rural Health shall be appointed by the Under Secretary of Health from among individuals qualified to perform the duties of the position. ‘‘(c) FUNCTIONS.—The functions of the Office are as follows: ‘‘(1) In cooperation with the medical, rehabilitation, health services, and cooperative studies research programs in the Office of Policy and the Office of Research and Development of the Veterans Health Administration, to assist the Under Secretary for Health in conducting, coordinating, promoting, and disseminating research into issues affecting veterans living in rural areas. ‘‘(2) To work with all personnel and offices of the Department of Veterans Affairs to develop, refine, and promulgate policies, best practices, lessons learned, and innovative and successful programs to improve care and services for veterans who reside in rural areas of the United States. ‘‘(3) To designate in each Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) an individual who shall consult on and coordinate the discharge in such Network of programs and activities of the Office for veterans who reside in rural areas of the United States. ‘‘(4) To perform such other functions and duties as the Secretary or the Under Secretary for Health considers appropriate.’’.
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