Summary

Requires each VA medical center to designate at least one patient advocate to serve as a coordinator specifically for veterans in rural and highly rural areas who get care at community-based outpatient clinics or through the community care network. Requires that patient advocates report to the medical center director somewhere in their chain of reporting and directs the Secretary to provide an annual de-identified report summarizing patient advocate tracking data, common issues, resolution times, requests for information, and compliments or complaints.

• Each VA medical center must designate at least one patient advocate to coordinate care for rural and highly rural veterans receiving community-based care.
• Designated advocates focus on veterans receiving care outside the main medical center, including community clinics and community care network providers.
• Patient advocates must report to the medical center director at some point in their supervisory chain.
• The VA Secretary must submit an annual de-identified summary report on patient advocate data to congressional veterans’ committees and VISN directors.
• Annual reports must include common issues, resolution times for issues and information requests, and compliments or complaints.
• The law directs use of existing staff "to the maximum extent practicable," reducing immediate hiring requirements.
• Reports are de-identified to protect veterans’ personal information while providing oversight data.
• Creates modest ongoing administrative work for data summarization and reporting but aims to improve care coordination and accountability for rural veterans.