IV

107TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION H. RES. 75

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the Secretary

of Veterans Affairs should recognize board certifications from the American Association of Physician Specialists, Inc., for purposes of employment of physicians by the Veterans Health Administration.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

MARCH 1, 2001

Mr. SCARBOROUGH submitted the following resolution; which was referred to

the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs

RESOLUTION

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that

the Secretary of Veterans Affairs should recognize board

certifications from the American Association of Physician

Specialists, Inc., for purposes of employment of physicians by the Veterans Health Administration.

Whereas the United States has, in the course of its history,

fought in many wars and conflicts to defend freedom and

protect the interests of the Nation;

Whereas millions of men and women have served the Nation

in times of need as members of the Armed Forces;

Whereas the service of veterans has been of vital importance

to the Nation and the sacrifices made by veterans and
2

•HRES 75 IH

their families should not be forgotten with the passage of

time;

Whereas the obligation of the Nation to provide the best

health care benefits to veterans and their families takes

precedence over all else;

Whereas veterans deserve comprehensive and high-quality

health care services;

Whereas the Secretary of Veterans Affairs only recognizes

board certifications of allopathic physicians from specialty boards that are members of the American Board

of Medical Specialties and board certifications of osteopathic physicians from specialty boards recognized by the

Bureau of Osteopathic Specialists;

Whereas in 1997, the Under Secretary for Health of the Department of Veterans Affairs restricted the hiring of physicians not certified by the American Board of Medical

Specialties or the Bureau of Osteopathic Specialists;

Whereas physicians not certified by the American Board of

Medical Specialties or the Bureau of Osteopathic Specialists are not eligible for special pay for board certification;

Whereas there are other nationally recognized organizations

that certify physicians for practice in areas of specialty;

Whereas the failure of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to

recognize board certifications from other nationally recognized organizations may limit the pool of qualified physicians from which the Department of Veterans Affairs can

hire; and

Whereas not recognizing board certifications of other nationally recognized organizations, such as the American Association of Physician Specialists, Inc., may limit the ability
3

•HRES 75 IH

of veterans to receive the highest quality health care:

Now, therefore, be it

1 Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Rep2 resentatives that the Secretary of Veterans Affairs should,

3 for the purposes of employment of physicians with the Vet4 erans Health Administration, recognize board certifi5 cations from the American Association of Physician Spe6 cialists, Inc., to the same extent as the Secretary of Vet7 erans Affairs recognizes board certifications from the

8 American Board of Medical Specialties and the Bureau

9 of Osteopathic Specialists.

Æ