Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 124.djvu/1185

124 STAT. 1159 PUBLIC LAW 111–163—MAY 5, 2010 ‘‘(B) Mechanisms for the peer review of the actions of individuals appointed in the Veterans Health Administration in the position of physician. ‘‘(b) QUALITY MANAGEMENT OFFICERS FOR VISNS.—(1) The Regional Director of each Veterans Integrated Services Network shall appoint an official of the Network to act as the quality manage- ment officer of the Network. ‘‘(2) The quality management officer for a Veterans Integrated Services Network shall report to the Regional Director of the Vet- erans Integrated Services Network, and to the National Quality Management Officer, regarding the discharge of the responsibilities and duties of the officer under this section. ‘‘(3) The quality management officer for a Veterans Integrated Services Network shall— ‘‘(A) direct the quality management office in the Network; and ‘‘(B) coordinate, monitor, and oversee the quality manage- ment programs and activities of the Administration medical facilities in the Network in order to ensure the thorough and uniform discharge of quality management requirements under such programs and activities throughout such facilities. ‘‘(c) QUALITY MANAGEMENT OFFICERS FOR MEDICAL FACILI- TIES.—(1) The director of each Veterans Health Administration medical facility shall appoint a quality management officer for that facility. ‘‘(2) The quality management officer for a facility shall report directly to the director of the facility, and to the quality management officer of the Veterans Integrated Services Network in which the facility is located, regarding the discharge of the responsibilities and duties of the quality management officer under this section. ‘‘(3) The quality management officer for a facility shall be responsible for designing, disseminating, and implementing quality management programs and activities for the facility that meet the requirements established by the National Quality Management Officer under subsection (a). ‘‘(d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—(1) Except as pro- vided in paragraph (2), there are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section. ‘‘(2) There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out the provisions of subparagraphs (B), (C), and (D) of subsection (a)(3), $25,000,000 for the two-year period of fiscal years beginning after the date of the enactment of this section.’’. (2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 73 is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 7311 the following new item: ‘‘7311A. Quality management officers.’’. (b) REPORTS ON QUALITY CONCERNS UNDER QUALITY-ASSUR- ANCE PROGRAM.—Section 7311(b) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph: ‘‘(4) As part of the quality-assurance program, the Under Sec- retary for Health shall establish mechanisms through which employees of Veterans Health Administration facilities may submit reports, on a confidential basis, on matters relating to quality of care in Veterans Health Administration facilities to the quality management officers of such facilities under section 7311A(c) of Appointment. Appointment.