Requires VA physicians and nurse practitioners who are veterans' primary care providers to certify a veteran's natural-causes death within 48 hours, lets a coroner or medical examiner certify it when the VA clinician cannot, and requires annual reports on compliance.

• Covers a VA physician or nurse practitioner who is the primary care provider of a veteran who dies of natural causes.
• Requires certification within 48 hours after the clinician learns of the death.
• Allows a coroner or medical examiner in the jurisdiction to certify the death if the VA clinician cannot meet the deadline.
• Requires the VA Secretary to report annually, starting one year after enactment, on compliance and on the most common reasons for missed deadlines.
• States that no VA employee must act in a way that violates the law of the jurisdiction where they are licensed or practicing.

• Veterans' Affairs Committee (Senate)

Armed Forces and National Security