II 

114TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. 2049 

To establish in the Department of Veterans Affairs a continuing medical 

education program for non-Department medical professionals who treat 

veterans and family members of veterans to increase knowledge and 

recognition of medical conditions common to veterans and family members of veterans, and for other purposes. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

SEPTEMBER 17, 2015 

Mr. BROWN introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred 

to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 

A BILL 

To establish in the Department of Veterans Affairs a continuing medical education program for non-Department 

medical professionals who treat veterans and family 

members of veterans to increase knowledge and recognition of medical conditions common to veterans and family 

members of veterans, and for other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 


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1 SECTION 1. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS CON2 TINUING EDUCATION PROGRAM FOR CER3 TAIN NON-DEPARTMENT MEDICAL PROFES4 SIONALS. 

5 (a) ESTABLISHMENT OF CONTINUING MEDICAL

6 EDUCATION PROGRAM.— 

7 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Veterans 

8 Affairs shall establish a continuing medical edu9 cation program for non-Department medical profes10 sionals with the goal of— 

11 (A) increasing knowledge and recognition 

12 of medical conditions common to veterans and 

13 family members of veterans; and 

14 (B) improving outreach to veterans and 

15 family members of veterans. 

16 (2) EDUCATION PROVIDED.—The program shall 

17 include education on the following: 

18 (A) Dealing with patients who are veterans 

19 or family members of veterans. 

20 (B) Identifying and treating common men21 tal and physical conditions of veterans and fam22 ily members of veterans. 

23 (C) Programs and benefits available to vet24 erans and family members of veterans through 

25 the following organizations: 


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1 (i) The Department of Veterans Af2 fairs. 

3 (ii) The Department of Labor. 

4 (iii) Such other Federal agencies and 

5 non-Federal organizations as the Secretary 

6 considers appropriate. 

7 (D) The health care system of the Depart8 ment of Veterans Affairs. 

9 (E) Such other matters as the Secretary 

10 considers appropriate. 

11 (b) DURATION OF PROGRAM.—The program shall be 

12 carried out during the five-year period beginning on the 

13 date of the enactment of this Act. 

14 (c) ADMINISTRATION OF PROGRAM.— 

15 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall carry 

16 out the program on an Internet website of the De17 partment of Veterans Affairs. 

18 (2) CURRICULUM AND CREDIT PROVIDED.—The 

19 Secretary shall determine the curriculum of the pro20 gram and the number of hours of credit to provide 

21 to participating non-Department medical profes22 sionals for continuing medical education. 

23 (3) ACCREDITATION.—The Secretary shall en24 sure that the program is accredited in as many 

25 States as practicable. 


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1 (4) CONSISTENCY WITH EXISTING RULES.—The 

2 Secretary shall ensure that the program is consistent 

3 with the rules and regulations of the following: 

4 (A) The medical licensing agency of each 

5 State in which the program is accredited. 

6 (B) Such medical credentialing organiza7 tions as the Secretary considers appropriate. 

8 (5) USER COST.—The Secretary shall carry out 

9 the program at no cost to participating non-Depart10 ment medical professionals. 

11 (d) NON-DEPARTMENT MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL

12 DEFINED.— 

13 (1) IN GENERAL.—In this section, the term 

14 ‘‘non-Department medical professional’’ means any 

15 individual specified in paragraph (2) who is licensed 

16 by an appropriate medical authority in the United 

17 States and in good standing, is not an employee of 

18 the Department of Veterans Affairs, and provides 

19 care to veterans or family members of veterans 

20 under the laws administered by the Secretary of Vet21 erans Affairs. 

22 (2) INDIVIDUAL SPECIFIED.—An individual 

23 specified in this paragraph is any of the following in24 dividuals: 

25 (A) A doctor. 


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1 (B) A nurse. 

2 (C) A physician assistant. 

3 (D) A psychologist. 

4 (E) A psychiatrist. 

5 (F) Such other individuals as the Secretary 

6 considers appropriate. 

Æ 


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