PUBLIC LAW 104-262—OCT. 9, 1996 110 STAT. 3205 "(C) regarding research needs and priorities relevant to the care of such veterans; and "(D) regarding the appropriate allocation of resources for all such activities. "(d)(1) Not later than April 1, 1997, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives a report on the implementation of this section. The report shall include the following: "(A) A list of the members of the committee. "(B) The assessment of the Under Secretary for Health, after review of the initial findings of the committee, regarding the capability of the Veterans Health Administration, on a systemwide and facility-by-facility basis, to meet effectively the treatment and rehabilitation needs of severely chronically mentally ill veterans who are eligible for Department care. "(C) The plans of the committee for further assessments. "(D) The findings and recommendations made by the committee to the Under Secretary for Health and the views of the Under Secretary on such findings and recommendations. "(E) A description of the steps taken, plans made (and a timetable for their execution), and resources to be applied toward improving the capability of the Veterans Heedth Administration to meet effectively the treatment and rehabilitation needs of severely chronically mentally ill veterans who are eligible for Department care. "(2) Not later than February 1, 1998, and February 1 of each Reports, of the three following years, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives a report containing information updating the reports submitted under this subsection before the submission of such report.". (b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT. — The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 73 is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 7320, as added by section 334(a)(2), the following new item: "7321. Committee on Care of Severely Chronically Mentally 111 Veterans.". Subtitle D—Other Provisions SEC. 341. HOSPICE CARE STUDY. 38 USC 1710 (a) STUDY REQUIRED.— The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall ^^^' conduct a research study to determine the desirability of the Secretary furnishing hospice care to terminally ill veterans and to evaluate the most cost-effective and efficient way to do so. The Secretary shall carry out the study using resources and personnel of the Department. (b) CONDUCT OF STUDY.— In carrying out the study required by subsection (a), the Secretary shall— (1) evaluate the programs, and the program models, through which the Secretary furnishes hospice care services within or through facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs and the programs and program models through which non-Depgutment facilities provide such services; (2) assess the satisfaction of patients, and family members of patients, in each of the program models covered by paragraph . (1);
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