38 U.S.C. § 7319 — Mammography quality standards

(a) A mammogram may not be performed at a Department^* facility unless that facility is accredited for that purpose by a private nonprofit organization designated by the Secretary^*. An organization designated by the Secretary under this subsection must meet the standards for accrediting bodies established under subsection (e) of section 354 of the Public Health Service Act ( 42 U.S.C. 263b). (b) The Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, must prescribe quality assurance and quality control standards relating to the performance and interpretation of mammograms and use of mammogram equipment and facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs consistent with the requirements of section 354(f)(1) of the Public Health Service Act. Such standards must be no less stringent than the standards prescribed by the Secretary of Health and Human Services under section 354(f) of the Public Health Service Act. (c) (1) The Secretary, to ensure compliance with the standards prescribed under subsection (b), must provide for an annual inspection of the equipment and facilities used by and in Department health care facilities for the performance of mammograms. Such inspections must be carried out in a manner consistent with the inspection of certified facilities by the Secretary of Health and Human Services under section 354(g) of the Public Health Service Act. (2) The Secretary may not provide for an inspection under paragraph (1) to be performed by a State^* agency. (d) The Secretary must ensure that mammograms performed for the Department under contract with any non-Department facility or provider conform to the quality standards prescribed by the Secretary of Health and Human Services under section 354 of the Public Health Service Act. (e) For the purposes of this section, the term “mammogram” has the meaning given that term in paragraph (5) of section 354(a) of the Public Health Service Act.