(1)

by redesignating subsection (f) as subsection (i); and

(2)

by inserting after subsection (e) the following new subsections:

(f) Coordination of care in rural and highly rural areas

(1)

The director of a medical center of the Department shall designate not fewer than one patient advocate to serve as the coordinator for veterans in rural and highly-rural areas served by that medical center who are receiving care through the broader network of care furnished by the Department through community-based outpatient clinics or the community care network.

(2)

An individual designated under paragraph (1) shall carry out the functions of the patient advocate position specific to supporting veterans in rural and highly-rural areas receiving care at locations outside of a medical center of the Department.

(3)

To the maximum extent practicable, the director of a medical center shall designate existing staff of the medical center to carry out paragraph (1).

(g) Inclusion of medical center directors in chain of reporting

The Director shall ensure that a patient advocate at a medical center of the Department reports to the director of that medical center at some point along the reporting line for the patient advocate.

(h) Annual report on information in Patient Advocate Tracking System

(1)

Not less frequently than annually, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate, the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives, and the Director of each Veterans Integrated Service Network a report outlining information generated through the Patient Advocate Tracking System, or successor system.

(2)

Each report required under paragraph (1) shall include de-identified data from the Patient Advocate Tracking System, or successor system, regarding—

(A)

common issues reported;

(B)

resolution times for such issues;

(C)

resolution times for requests for information; and

(D)

compliments or complaints received under such system.