1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Ask Veterans Act . 2. Survey of veterans’ experiences with Department of Veterans Affairs medical care (a) In general The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall seek to enter into a contract with a non-government entity with significant experience conducting scientifically verifiable surveys and research to conduct an annual survey of a statistically significant sample of veterans who reside in the geographic area served by each of the medical facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs to determine the nature of the experiences of such veterans in obtaining hospital care and medical services furnished by the Secretary at each such medical facility. Each such survey shall be conducted using scientific and verifiable methods. Such contract shall provide that the non-government entity shall conduct such annual surveys during the five-year period beginning on the date on which the Secretary enters into the contract with the non-government entity. (b) Contents The contract entered into under subsection (a) shall provide that each survey conducted pursuant to the contract shall be specific to a medical facility of the Department and shall include questions relating to the experiences of veterans in requesting and receiving appointments for hospital care and medical services furnished by the Secretary at that medical facility, including questions relating to each of the following: (1) The veteran’s ability to obtain hospital care and medical services at the facility in a timely manner. (2) The period of time between the date on which the veteran requests an appointment at the facility and the date on which the appointment is scheduled. (3) The frequency with which scheduled appointments are canceled by the facility. (4) The quality of hospital care or medical services the veteran has received at the facility. (c) Consultation The contract entered into under subsection (a) shall provide that in designing and conducting the surveys for each medical facility of the Department