Veterans Prosthetics Advancement and Reform Act

This Act may be cited as the Veterans Prosthetics Advancement and Reform Act.
Chapter 17 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 1709C the following new section:
The Secretary shall establish a list of prosthetic and rehabilitative items and services, which may be referred to as the Prosthetic and Rehabilitative Items and Services Formulary or the Formulary, for purposes of furnishing medical services under section 1701(6)(F) of this title pursuant to section 1710 of this title.
In developing the Formulary, the Secretary shall solicit input from veterans and the public.
The Secretary shall ensure that all items and services included in the Formulary are available at or through all facilities of the Department.
In developing the Formulary, the Secretary shall rely on the best available evidence to identify which items and services should be included on the Formulary.
The Secretary shall publish the Formulary on a website of the Department and shall update the Formulary periodically.
The Secretary shall communicate to veterans the contents of the Formulary and information about how to appeal decisions regarding the provision of items and services on the Formulary.
The Secretary shall enter into such contracts as the Secretary considers necessary to support the availability of items and services included in the Formulary.
The Secretary shall ensure the availability of training on the Formulary for clinicians and other staff of the Department.
The Secretary shall establish a process for clinicians of the Department to request, prescribe, and furnish prosthetic and rehabilitative items and services that are not included on the Formulary when medically necessary.
The Secretary shall monitor requests, prescriptions, and the furnishing of prosthetic and rehabilitative items and services under paragraph (1)—
to ensure that such items and services are being consistently and appropriately prescribed at all facilities of the Department; and
to determine whether such items or services should be added to the Formulary.
In developing the Formulary, the Secretary shall consider how the approach of the Pharmacy Benefits Management Services of the Department for formulary management and medication safety can be adapted to support the efficient and effective administration of the Formulary.
The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 1709C the following new item: