Veterans' Medical Programs Amendments of 1992

Veterans' Medical Programs Amendments of 1992 - Title I: Health Care - Part A: General Health Care - Increases the amount authorized to be expended per veteran for improvements and structural alterations necessary to assure the continuation of treatment for a disability or to provide access to the home or to lavatory and sanitary facilities. Makes such rates effective for veterans who first apply for such benefits on or after January 1, 1990, making ineligible for such increases any veterans who received the maximum amount authorized before such date. Requires the Geriatrics and Gerontology Advisory Committee to submit to the appropriate congressional committees a copy of any report submitted to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs on all appropriate matters of geriatrics and gerontology. Authorizes the Secretary to enter into agreements for the joint acquisition of medical equipment. Outlines conditions to such joint acquisition, including payment of no more than one half of the purchase price of such equipment by the Secretary, the exchange of use of such equipment between the joint holders, and provision by the institution involved of its share of the purchase price. Authorizes the Secretary to transfer to the other joint holder its interest in the equipment if the Secretary determines that such transfer would be justified by compelling clinical considerations or the economic interest of the Department of Veterans Affairs. Authorizes the Secretary to purchase the interest of the joint holder of such equipment under similar conditions. Authorizes the Secretary to enter into escrow agreements with institutions to facilitate the procurement of medical equipment. Outlines escrow agreement requirements. Requires the Secretary to report on the implementation of such joint acquisition under these provisions. States that Department quality assurance activities shall be deemed to be part of the operation of hospitals, nursing homes, and domiciliary facilities of the Department, without regard to the location of the duty stations of employees carrying out such activities. Renames the Prosthetics Service Advisory Committee as the Advisory Committee on Prosthetics and Special-Disabilities Programs and provides that such committee shall operate as if established by law. Requires the Advisory Committee's activities to relate to: (1) prosthetics and special-disabilities programs of the Department; (2) coordination of programs which develop and test prosthetic devices; and (3) the adequacy of funding for such programs within the Department. Requires the Advisory Committee to report to the Secretary and the Senate and House Veterans' Affairs Committees (veterans' committees) on the effectiveness of the prosthetics and special-disabilities programs administered by the Secretary during the preceding fiscal year. Directs the Secretary to report to the veterans' committees concerning the backlog that occurred in the procurement of prosthetic appliances in FY 1989 and on actions to be taken to prevent a recurrence of backlogs and failures to furnish such appliances on a priority basis. Directs the Secretary to assess all programs developed by Department facilities to assist homeless veterans. Requires the director of each medical center or regional benefits office of the Department to assess the needs of homeless veterans living within their area, identifying needs with respect to health care, education and training, employment, shelter, counseling, and outreach services. Outlines further requirements of each such director with respect to homeless veterans. Authorizes the Secretary to accept the donation of funds and services in order to provide one-stop, nonresidential services and mobile support teams and for expanding the medical services furnished to eligible homeless veterans by the Department. Amends the: (1) Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Amendments Act of 1988 to extend through FY 1993 a program for furnishing domiciliary care to homeless veterans through Department facilities; and (2) Veterans' Benefits and Services Act of 1988 to extend through FY 1994 a pilot program of community-based residential care for homeless chronically mentally ill and other veterans. Requires a report. Part B: Mental Health Provisions - Directs the Secretary to conduct a program for furnishing marriage and family counseling services to veterans who were awarded a campaign medal for active-duty service during the Persian Gulf War, to reservists who were called or ordered to active duty during such War, and to their spouses and children. Authorizes the Secretary to provide marriage and family counseling services that the Secretary determines, based on an assessment by a mental health professional, are necessary for the amelioration of psychological, marital, or familial difficulties resulting from such service. Outlines provisions concerning the manner in which such services will be furnished, as well as qualifications required of the marriage and family counselors performing such services. Outlines provisions concerning counseling services provided by mental health professionals pursuant to Department contracts, including the length of marriage and counseling services to be performed under the program. Prohibits the same person who performs the counseling needs assessment from furnishing the marriage and counseling services under the program, with a waiver of such prohibition under specified circumstances. Directs the Secretary to reimburse the mental health professionals for the reasonable costs of such counseling services. Provides cost recovery provisions. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1993 and 1994. Requires the Secretary to report to the Congress on such program. Directs the Secretary, in carrying out medical research and awarding grants, to designate a level of funding support for, and assign a priority to, the conduct of research on mental illness, including research regarding post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), PTSD in association with substance abuse, and the treatment of those disorders. Requires the Special Committee on Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder to submit in 1992 and 1993 additional reports updating earlier reports on PTSD as required under the Veterans' Health Care Act of 1984. Directs the Secretary to develop a plan to: (1) ensure that veterans suffering from active-duty PTSD are provided timely and appropriate treatment and rehabilitation for such condition; (2) expand and improve the services available for PTSD victims; (3) eliminate waiting lists for inpatient treatment; (4) enhance PTSD outreach activities; and (5) ensure the existence of Department PTSD treatment units in readily accessible locations for veterans residing in rural areas. Requires a plan report from the Secretary to the veterans' committees. Title II: Health-Care Personnel - Prohibits the amount of increased pay for certain Department health care personnel furnishing direct patient care or incidental services from exceeding by two times (currently, only exceeding) the amount by which the maximum for such pay grade exceeds the minimum for such pay grade. Requires a minimum two-year service requirement in the Department for graduates of the Department of Veterans Affairs Health Professional Scholarship Program. Authorizes the Secretary to purchase promotional items of nominal value for recruitment purposes. Includes board certification pay within certain other categories of special pay under Federal provisions guaranteeing that full and part-time physicians and dentists receiving special pay will continue to receive special pay of at least such amount after changes made to special pay provisions under the Department of Veterans Affairs Health-Care Personnel Act of 1991. Authorizes the Department to appoint and pay nonphysician directors of clinical support services within the VHA of the Department, as opposed to payment under a Federal employees schedule. Title III: Miscellaneous - Prohibits funds from being appropriated for any fiscal year, and prohibits the Secretary from obligating or expending funds, for any major medical project or major medical facility lease unless funds have been specifically authorized by law. Defines a "major medical facility lease" as a lease having an average annual rental amount of more than $300,000 (currently $500,000). Redesignates within the Department the positions of Chief Medical Director and Chief Benefits Director as the Under Secretary for Health and the Under Secretary for Benefits, respectively. Allows attorneys to charge veterans a reasonable fee for representation in any case arising out of a loan made, guaranteed, or insured by the Department. Requires a fee agreement to be entered and filed with the Secretary.

Veterans' Health Programs Amendments of 1992 - Title I: Health Care - Increases the amount authorized to be expended per veteran for improvements and structural alterations necessary to assure the continuation of treatment for a disability or to provide access to the home or to lavatory and sanitary facilities. Amends the Veterans' Health Care Amendments of 1986 to extend through FY 1993 an annual report requirement under such Act concerning the furnishing of non-service-connected health care to veterans. Requires the Geriatrics and Gerontology Advisory Committee to submit to the appropriate congressional committees a copy of any report submitted to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs on all appropriate matters of geriatrics and gerontology. Extends from three to four years the period in which a Department of Veterans Affairs research corporation must be recognized as a tax-exempt entity under the Internal Revenue Code in order to avoid dissolution. Extends through December 31, 1993, the authority of the Department to establish such corporations. Authorizes the Secretary to enter into agreements for the joint acquisition of medical equipment. Outlines conditions to such joint acquisition, including payment of no more than one half of the purchase price of such equipment by the Secretary, the exchange of use of such equipment between the joint holders, and provision by the institution involved of its share of the purchase price. Authorizes the Secretary to transfer to the other joint holder its interest in the equipment if the Secretary determines that such transfer would be justified by compelling clinical considerations or the economic interest of the Department. Authorizes the Secretary to purchase the interest of the joint holder of such equipment under similar conditions. Authorizes the Secretary to enter into escrow agreements with institutions to facilitate the procurement of medical equipment. Outlines escrow agreement requirements. Requires the Secretary to report on the implementation of such joint acquisition under these provisions. States that Department quality assurance activities shall be deemed to be part of the operation of hospitals, nursing homes, and domiciliary facilities of the Department, without regard to the location of the duty stations of employees carrying out such activities. Renames the Prosthetics Service Advisory Committee as the Advisory Committee on Prosthetics and Special-Disabilities Programs and provides that such committee shall operate as if established by law. Requires the Advisory Committee's activities to relate to: (1) prosthetics and special-disabilities programs of the Department; (2) coordination of programs which develop and test prosthetic devices; and (3) the adequacy of funding for such programs within the Department. Requires the Advisory Committee to report to the Secretary and the Senate and House Veterans' Affairs Committees (veterans' committees) on the effectiveness of the prosthetics and special-disabilities programs administered by the Secretary during the preceding fiscal year. Authorizes the Secretary to contract with non-Department facilities for the treatment of any veteran who has a total and permanent service-connected disability. Directs the Secretary, in carrying out medical research and awarding grants, to designate a level of funding support for, and assign a priority to, the conduct of research on mental illness, including research regarding post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), PTSD in association with substance abuse, and the treatment of those disorders. Provides for the distribution of funds for such purposes. Requires the Secretary to provide an implementation report. Directs the Secretary to assess the needs for treatment and rehabilitative services for veterans believed to be suffering from PTSD. Requires the Secretary to develop a plan for providing such treatment and services, as well as for expanding and refining services available for the treatment of PTSD. Directs the Secretary to consult with the Special Committee on Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in developing such plan and expansion and refining. Requires a report from the Secretary on the plan developed. Title II: Health-Care Personnel - Prohibits the amount of increased pay for certain Department health care personnel furnishing direct patient care or incidental services from exceeding by two times (currently, only exceeding) the amount by which the maximum for such pay grade exceeds the minimum for such pay grade. Requires a minimum two-year service requirement in the Department for graduates of the Department of Veterans Affairs Health Professional Scholarship Program. Authorizes the Secretary to purchase promotional items of nominal value for recruitment purposes. Authorizes the appointment of such nonphysician directors of professional or auxiliary services as needed within the office of the Chief Medical Director of the Veterans Health Administration. Title III: Miscellaneous Provisions - Prohibits funds from being appropriated for any fiscal year, and prohibits the Secretary from obligating or expending funds, for any major medical project or major medical facility lease unless funds have been specifically authorized by law. Defines a "major medical facility lease" as a lease having an average annual rental amount of more than $300,000 (currently $500,000). Redesignates within the Department the positions of Chief Medical Director and Chief Benefits Director as the Under Secretary for Health and the Under Secretary for Benefits, respectively. Authorizes the Secretary to provide for the operation of child care centers at Department facilities if the Secretary determines, based on employee demand, that such operation is in the best interests of the Department and that it is practicable to do so. Requires priority to be given to employees of: (1) the Department; (2) other Federal departments and agencies; and (3) affiliated schools and corporations, in that order. Authorizes the Secretary to provide such services to members of the public if necessary to ensure the financial success of the center. Directs the Secretary to establish reasonable charges for the provision of child care services at each center, in a sum at least sufficient to meet all operating expenses. Outlines specified actions authorized to be taken by the Secretary in connection with the establishment and operation of such centers. Authorizes the Secretaries of Veterans Affairs and Defense to make joint grants to qualifying medical schools to assist in the establishment of new medical research centers. Outlines qualifications for medical schools eligible for such grants, including: (1) having no established research center in the field for which application is made; (2) being located in proximity to a Department of Veterans Affairs medical facility which has an affiliation with a medical facility of the Department of Defense; and (3) having demonstrable potential for successful development of such a new research center. Requires the Secretaries to ensure that centers for which grants are made are geographically dispersed within the United States. Requires the Secretaries to establish an advisory committee to advise a medical school with respect to activities of the center for which a grant is made. Prohibits the Secretaries from entering into an agreement to make a grant unless the Secretaries find that the school will maintain arrangements with the Department medical facility with which it is affiliated as to be mutually beneficial in carrying out the mission of the respective medical facilities and the school. Requires facilities of such research centers to be made available on a competitive basis. Requires the Secretaries to ensure that Federal funding for such centers is acknowledged in the activities and publications of the center. Requires one half of the grant amounts to be provided by each Secretary. Specifies fund sources which may be used for such grants. Requires an agreement for such grants to include certain assurances with respect to the sufficiency of non-Federal funding for such research centers. Authorizes the Secretaries to increase grant amounts due to cost increases, within specified limits. Sets forth application requirements for medical schools desiring to receive such grants. Requires the Secretaries, in considering such applications, to give priority to applications which emphasize research in one or more of the following areas: (1) diabetes and metabolic diseases; (2) prosthetics and rehabilitation medicine; (3) mental health, behavioral medicine, and neurological disease; (4) acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) and related diseases; (5) Alzheimer and dementia; (6) degenerative cardiopulmonary disease; (7) cancer; (8) technology assessment; and (9) toxicology. Requires the Secretary to use a merit review process in considering applications and awarding grants under this Act. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1993 through 1996. Entitles the Secretaries to recover from grant recipients any amount not used for appropriate grant purposes.

Veterans Health Care Amendments Act of 1992 - Title I: Mental Health - Part A: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder - Veterans Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Treatment Act of 1992 - Directs that a veteran diagnosed by the Department of Veterans Affairs as suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) be furnished care and services for such disorder by the Department, even if such disorder has not been determined to be service-connected. Makes eligible for such care and services a veteran who served on active duty in a theater of combat operations during World War II, the Korean conflict, the Vietnam era, the Persian Gulf War, or in any other area during a period in which hostilities occurred in such area. Requires a veteran who is referred by a Vet Center to a Department general health-care facility for a determination regarding such veteran's eligibility for PTSD care and services to be evaluated for diagnostic purposes within seven days of such referral. Requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, upon request of any eligible veteran, to furnish counseling to assist the veteran in overcoming any psychological problems associated with such service. Directs the Secretary, no later than June 1, 1992, to devise and initiate a plan to: (1) increase the availability of treatment of veterans suffering from PTSD to levels commensurate with their needs; and (2) enhance outreach activities to inform combat veterans (and their families) of the availability of such treatment and to encourage such veterans to participate in such treatment. Directs the Secretary to report to the Senate and House Veterans' Affairs Committees on the description and implementation of such plan. Directs the Secretary, in preparing such report, to consult with the Special Committee on Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and the Advisory Committee on Readjustment of Vietnam and other War Veterans. Directs the Special Committee on Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (Special Committee) to report concurrently to the Secretary and the veterans' committees setting forth its evaluation of a study required under prior law of postwar psychological problems of Vietnam veterans. Requires the Special Committee in 1993 and 1994 to update certain reports required under prior law relating to PTSD and its treatment. Directs the Secretary, in the budgetary documents submitted to the Congress in conjunction with the President's budget submission for FY 1994 and 1995, to identify amounts in the appropriations requests for Department accounts that are estimated to be obligated for various purposes relating to the provision of treatment for PTSD. Directs the Secretary to ensure that there are PTSD units in locations that are readily accessible to veterans residing in rural areas. Part B: Mental Illness Research and Education - Directs the Secretary, upon the recommendation of the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the Department, to designate not more than five health-care facilities of the Department as locations for centers of mental illness research, education and clinical activities (especially for service-related conditions) and to establish and operate such centers at such locations. Requires the first such facility to be designated no later than January 1, 1993. Requires the Secretary to ensure the appropriate geographical distribution of such facilities. Prohibits the Secretary from designating any such facility as a mental illness research, education, and clinical center (MIC) unless such facility has an arrangement with an accredited medical school, graduate school of psychology, or nursing school which: (1) provides appropriate education and training in such matters; (2) has the ability to attract appropriate personnel for such research; (3) has a policy-making advisory committee; and (4) has the capability to conduct effective evaluations of the activities at such center. Authorizes appropriations for the operation of the MICs for FY 1993 through 1996. Requires such research to include an appropriate emphasis on the psychosocial dimension of mental illness and on proposals for furnishing care and treatment to veterans suffering from mental illness. Requires the CMD to ensure that useful information produced by MICs is disseminated through the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). Requires reports during 1993 through 1995 from the Secretary to the veterans' committees on experiences under the MIC program. Part C: Program of Marriage and Family Counseling for Certain Veterans - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct a program for furnishing marriage and family counseling services to veterans who were awarded a campaign medal for active-duty service during the Persian Gulf War, reservists who were called or ordered to active duty during such War, and their spouses, dependents, and parents. Authorizes the Secretary to provide marriage and family counseling services that the Secretary determines, based on an assessment by a mental-health professional, is necessary for the amelioration of psychological, marital, or familial difficulties resulting from such active-duty service. Outlines provisions concerning the manner in which such services will be furnished, as well as qualifications required of the marriage and family counselors performing such services. Outlines provisions concerning counseling services provided by mental health professionals pursuant to Department of Veterans Affairs contracts, including the length of marriage and counseling services to be performed under the program. Prohibits the same person who performs the counseling needs assessment from furnishing the marriage and counseling services under the program, with a waiver of such prohibition under specified circumstances. Directs the Secretary to reimburse the mental health professionals for the reasonable costs of such counseling services. Provides cost recovery provisions. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1993 and 1994. Requires the Secretary to report an interim and final report to the Congress on such program, with recommendations. Title II: General Health Care - Part A: General Health - Authorizes the furnishing of prosthetic devices and certain other medical items as part of outpatient care when necessary either to obviate the need for hospital admission or in preparation for such. Requires the Secretary, in order for such authority to become effective, to determine that its implementation would not result in a substantial delay in furnishing such items in connection with the treatment of service-connected disabilities or in the denial of such items in connection with such treatment. Increases the amount authorized to be expended per veteran for improvements and structural alterations necessary to assure the continuation of treatment for a disability or to provide access to the home or to lavatory and sanitary facilities. Directs the Secretary to require the directors of Department medical centers or regional benefits offices to assess the needs of homeless veterans living within their service areas, including the needs of such veterans with respect to health care, education and training, employment, shelter, counseling, and outreach services. Requires each assessment to indicate the extent to which such needs are being adequately met by programs of the Department and other Federal, State, and local governments and agencies, as well as nongovernmental organizations. Requires each such director to develop a plan for each of fiscal years 1993 through 1995 for the provision of outreach and other services to meet veterans needs. Requires the coordination of such plans with other Federal, non-Federal, and private plans and programs with respect to the provision of services to homeless persons. Requires each director to carry out such plan and to disseminate to all other appropriate entities information regarding the services provided to homeless veterans by the medical facility or benefits office. Directs the Secretary to conduct a pilot program to determine the effectiveness of providing, through existing community-based organizations, domiciliary care to homeless veterans eligible for such care from the Department under other provisions of law. Requires the pilot program to be conducted at not more than 15 locations throughout the United States. Authorizes the Secretary to enter into contracts with community-based organizations to provide services under such program, giving preference to those that offer the most comprehensive care and services to homeless individuals and those not being adequately met by existing programs. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1992 through 1995. Authorizes the transfer of certain other funds for continuing pilot programs, with certain transfer limitations. Authorizes the Secretary to accept donations of funds and services for providing one-stop, nonresidential services and mobile support teams and for expanding the medical services available to eligible homeless veterans. Amends the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Amendments Act of 1988 to extend the authorization of appropriations and the provision of certain programs for homeless veterans provided under such Act through FY 1993. Amends the Veterans' Benefits and Services Act of 1988 to extend through FY 1994 a program under such Act with regard to certain services for mentally ill homeless veterans. Requires the Secretary to report to the veterans' committees containing an evaluation of: (1) assessments and plans by medical center and benefits office directors with respect to homeless veterans; (2) the pilot program for the provision of domiciliary care to homeless veterans; and (3) the acceptance of gifts and services to provide nonresidential services and mobile support teams for expanding the medical services available to homeless veterans. Amends the Veterans' Benefits and Services Act of 1988 to extend through FY 1993 the authorization of appropriations for a pilot program which provides mobile health-care clinics for veterans residing in isolated rural areas. Directs the Secretary to establish the Advisory Committee on Prosthetics and Special-Disabilities Programs to advise the Secretary on: (1) all matters related to prosthetics and special-disabilities programs of the Department; (2) coordination of programs which develop and test prosthetic devices; and (3) the adequacy of funding for such programs within the Department. Requires the Advisory Committee to report to the Secretary and the veterans' committees annually in 1993 through 1995 on the effectiveness of the prosthetics and special-disabilities programs administered by the Secretary during the preceding fiscal year. Expands the definition of "medical services," for purposes of veterans' benefits provisions, to include services to overcome a service-connected disability impairing a veteran's ability to achieve procreation. Directs the CMD to appoint an advisory committee to advise the CMD on the exercise of authority to furnish such procreative-assistive services. Directs the Secretary, through FY 1996, to: (1) furnish annually at least two preventive health-care services that the Secretary determines are feasible and appropriate for any veteran being furnished hospital, nursing home, or domiciliary care or medical treatment under current veterans' benefits provisions; and (2) implement annually at each Department health-care facility a major preventive health-care and health-promotion initiative for such veterans. Limits the yearly expenditures for such activities. Requires the CMD to designate an official in the VHA to act as the Director of Preventive Health-Care and Health-Promotion Programs. Requires the Secretary to report on February 1 of 1994 and 1996 on interim and final experiences under the programs. Authorizes the Secretary to provide: (1) a service dog to a quadriplegic veteran who has a service-connected disability; and (2) a signal dog to a veteran who has a service-connected hearing impairment. Authorizes the payment of travel and incidental expenses to veterans for travel incurred in becoming adjusted to such service or signal dog. Directs the Secretary to report to the veterans' committees concerning the backlog that occurred in the procurement of prosthetic appliances in FY 1989 and on actions to be taken to prevent a recurrence of backlogs and failures to furnish appliances on a priority basis. Repeals the authority of the Department to furnish tobacco products to veterans receiving hospital or domiciliary care through the Department. Directs the Secretary to establish a task force to recommend policies and legislation for the elimination of inconsistencies among provisions of law relating to veterans' eligibility for certain health-care benefits. Requires the Secretary to review the report of the task force and either approve of its recommendations, make recommendations in lieu of such recommendations, or a combination of both and report thereon to the veterans' committees. Makes former prisoners of war eligible for outpatient medical services through the Department for any disability. Directs the Secretary, during FY 1992 through 1995, to conduct a pilot program to furnish assistive monkeys to quadriplegic veterans who have a service-connected disability rated at 50 percent or more. Directs the Secretary to: (1) consider the extent to which the veteran needs and can benefit from the assistance of the monkey; and (2) provide a preference for veterans who have service-connected quadriplegia. Requires a receiving veteran to be well-suited for caring for such monkey and for effectively using the monkey for the provision of assistance in performing daily living tasks. Provides administrative matters, including the making of contracts for the furnishing of such assistive monkeys. Requires the Secretary to evaluate and report to the veterans' committees on the pilot program. Requires the CMD, before furnishing such assistive monkeys under the pilot program, to provide for the conduct of an independent evaluation of the way that assistive monkeys would be treated during training and placement under the pilot program. Requires consultation with appropriate animal welfare organizations. Part B: Health-Care Personnel - Authorizes the provision of increased pay to any Department health-care personnel furnishing direct care to patients or providing incidental services on the same basis as pay is currently provided for nurses within the Department. Prohibits such added pay from exceeding by two times (currently, only exceeding) the amount by which the maximum for such pay grade exceeds the minimum for such grade. Directs the Secretary to increase the rates of pay for clinical or counseling psychologists who hold diplomas in psychology from an accredited authority recognized by the Secretary, unless the CMD determines that such psychologists are not needed to furnish the appropriate quality of psychological services for veterans. Makes such increase an amount needed to make their pay competitive with the pay of psychologists in comparable positions in a non-Department facility. Directs the Secretary to require the director of each Department medical facility and regional office to: (1) assess the needs of employees of such facility or office for child-care services; and (2) report annually to the Secretary on their findings, including a proposal to meet such needs. Includes board certification pay within certain other categories of special pay under Federal provisions guaranteeing that full and part-time physicians and dentists receiving special pay will continue to receive special pay of at least such amount after changes made to special pay provisions under the Department of Veterans Affairs Health-Care Personnel Act of 1991. Authorizes the Department to appoint and pay nonphysician directors of clinical support services within the VHA of the Department, as opposed to payment under a Federal employees' schedule. Title III: Minority Affairs - Reestablishes the Advisory Committee on Native-American Veterans as established under the Veterans' Health-Care Amendments of 1986. Requires the Advisory Committee to report to the Secretary, who in turn shall report to the veterans' committees, on findings and recommendations with respect to the needs of Native American veterans, including American Indians and Alaska Natives. Terminates such Advisory Committee 90 days after its second report. Title IV: Miscellaneous - States that the prohibition on the payment of attorneys' fees in connection with VA benefits proceedings applies only where the individual is applying for such benefits, and not when the Government is proceeding against a person to collect an indebtedness or in cases in which other attorneys' fees statutes apply. Authorizes the director of each national cemetery to display a prisoner of war/missing in action flag on a flagstaff at that cemetery. Prohibits any officer or employee of the Government from obligating appropriated funds for the purchase of such a flag at a national cemetery.