US Congress House Bill 1848 (Prior Session Legislation)

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Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 4-0)
Status: Engrossed on July 25 2017 - 50% progression, died in committee
Action: 2017-07-25 - Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
Pending: Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee
Text: Latest bill text (Engrossed) [PDF]

Veterans Affairs Medical Scribe Pilot Act of 2017 (Sec. 2) This bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to carry out a two-year pilot program under which it shall increase the use of medical scribes at VA medical centers. The bill defines "medical scribe" as an unlicensed individual hired to enter information into the electronic health record or chart at the direction of a physician or licensed independent practitioner whose responsibilities include: assisting the physician or practitioner in navigating the electronic health record; and responding to various messages and entering information into such record, as directed by the physician or practitioner. The VA shall carry out the program at four VA medical centers located in rural areas, four located in urban areas, and two located in areas with need for increased access or increased efficiency. The VA shall: (1) hire 20 new VA term employees as medical scribes and seek to enter into contracts for the employment of 20 additional scribes, (2) assign four scribes to each VA medical center where the program is conducted, (3) assign two scribes to each of two physicians, (4) employ 30% of the scribes in the provision of emergency care, and (5) employ 70% of the scribes in the provision of care in specialties with the longest patient wait times or lowest efficiency ratings. (Sec. 3) The bill replaces a provision authorizing the VA to furnish tobacco to veterans receiving hospital or domiciliary care with provisions prohibiting any person from smoking: (1) indoors in any Veterans Health Administration (VHA) facility, (2) indoors in a VHA community living center on or after December 31, 2018, and (3) outdoors at any VHA facility on or after October 1, 2021.

Veterans Affairs Medical Scribe Pilot Act of 2017

Rep. David Roe [R-TN]

Rep. Greg Walden [R-OR]

Rep. Clay Higgins [R-LA]

Rep. David Young [R-IA]

Date	Chamber	Action
2017-07-25	Senate	Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
2017-07-24	House	The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.
2017-07-24	House	Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
2017-07-24	House	On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H6173-6174)
2017-07-24	House	Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H6198-6199)
2017-07-24	House	At the conclusion of debate, the chair put the question on the motion to suspend the rules. Mr. Walz objected to the vote on the grounds that a quorum was not present. Further proceedings on the motion were postponed. The point of no quorum was considered as withdrawn.
2017-07-24	House	DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 1848.
2017-07-24	House	Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H6173-6174)
2017-07-24	House	Mr. Roe (TN) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
2017-05-23	House	Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 99.
2017-05-23	House	Reported by the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. H. Rept. 115-151.
2017-05-17	House	Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote.
2017-05-17	House	Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
2017-04-06	House	Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote .
2017-04-05	House	Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
2017-04-03	House	Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
2017-04-03	House	Introduced in House

SB2119 (Related) 2017-11-13 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. (text of measure as introduced: CR S7178)
HB5674 (Related) 2018-05-11 - Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 516.
SB2906 (Related) 2018-05-22 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
SB2372 (Related) 2018-06-06 - Became Public Law No: 115-182.

Type	Source
Summary	https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/1848/all-info
Text	https://www.congress.gov/115/bills/hr1848/BILLS-115hr1848ih.pdf
Text	https://www.congress.gov/115/bills/hr1848/BILLS-115hr1848rh.pdf
Text	https://www.congress.gov/115/bills/hr1848/BILLS-115hr1848eh.pdf