The report required by subsection (a) shall include the following: (1) A discussion on whether the hiring freeze has disrupted the operations of the Department. (2) A discussion on whether the hiring freeze has increased the operating costs of the Department. (3) The effect of the hiring freeze on the ability of the Department to provide veterans with access to health care. (4) The effect of the hiring freeze on the ability of the Department to schedule appointments for veterans. (5) The effect of the hiring freeze on the ability of the Department to process payments for medical care, including payments to third-party providers. (6) The effect of the hiring freeze on the ability of the Department to adjudicate claims for benefits, pensions, and compensation. (7) The effect of the hiring freeze on the ability of the Department to resolve appeals for benefits, pensions, and compensation. (8) A discussion of whether the hiring freeze created an incentive for supervisors to use alternative sources of labor, such as increased use of overtime, contracting with private firms, or using other than full-time permanent employees. (9) A discussion of whether improved workforce planning, rather than a hiring freeze, is a more effective way to insure that the level of the personnel resources of the Department are consistent with requirements. 210. Report on plan of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a reduction in force at the Department of Veterans Affairs through attrition (a) Report required Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives a report on how the Secretary plans to implement the portions of the plan of the Director of the Office of Personnel Management to reduce the size of the workforce of Federal Government through attrition that pertain to the Department of Veterans Affairs. (b) Succession and recruitment