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[Congressional Bills 114th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2175 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

<DOC>

114th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 2175

     To amend title 38, United States Code, to clarify the role of 
   podiatrists in the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other 
                               purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            October 8, 2015

  Mr. Tester introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
             referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

 
     To amend title 38, United States Code, to clarify the role of 
   podiatrists in the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other 
                               purposes.

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Department of Veterans Affairs 
Provider Equity Act''.

SEC. 2. ROLE OF PODIATRISTS IN DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

    (a) Inclusion as Physician.--
            (1) In general.--Subchapter I of chapter 74 of title 38, 
        United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the 
        following new section:
``Sec. 7413. Treatment of podiatrists
    ``For purposes of this chapter, the term `physician' includes a 
podiatrist.''.
            (2) Clerical amendment.--The table of sections at the 
        beginning of chapter 74 of such title is amended by inserting 
        after the item relating to section 7412 the following new item:

``7413. Treatment of podiatrists.''.
            (3) Conforming amendment.--Section 7401(1) of such title is 
        amended by striking ``Physicians, dentists, podiatrists,'' and 
        inserting ``Physicians, dentists,''.
    (b) Qualifications.--Section 7402(b) of such title is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1)--
                    (A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``or of doctor 
                of osteopathy'' and inserting ``, doctor of osteopathy, 
                or doctor of podiatric medicine''; and
                    (B) in subparagraph (C), by inserting ``podiatry,'' 
                after ``surgery,'';
            (2) by striking paragraph (5); and
            (3) by redesignating paragraphs (6) through (14) as 
        paragraphs (5) through (13), respectively.
    (c) Period of Appointment.--Section 7403(a)(2) of such title is 
amended--
            (1) by striking subparagraph (C); and
            (2) by redesignating subparagraphs (D) through (H) as 
        subparagraphs (C) through (G), respectively.
    (d) Modification of Pay Grade.--
            (1) Grade.--The list in section 7404(b) of such title is 
        amended by striking ``PODIATRIST, CHIROPRACTOR,'' and inserting 
        ``CHIROPRACTOR''.
            (2) Application.--The amendment made by paragraph (1) shall 
        apply with respect to any pay period of the Department of 
        Veterans Affairs beginning on or after the date that is 30 days 
        after the date of the enactment of this Act.
    (e) Contracts for Scarce Services.--Section 7409(a) of such title 
is amended by striking ``podiatrists,''.
    (f) Personnel Administration.--Section 7421(b) of such title is 
amended--
            (1) by striking paragraph (3); and
            (2) by redesignating paragraphs (4) through (8) as 
        paragraphs (3) through (7), respectively.
    (g) Medical Directors.--Section 7306(a)(4) of such title is 
amended--
            (1) by striking ``either''; and
            (2) by inserting ``, a qualified doctor of podiatric 
        medicine,'' after ``doctor of medicine''.
    (h) Application.--The amendments made by this section shall apply 
with respect to podiatrists who are employed by the Department of 
Veterans Affairs as of the date of the enactment of this Act or who are 
appointed on or after such date.
                                 <all>
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