I 
113TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 5686 
To amend title 38, United States Code, to establish the Physician Ambas-
sadors Helping Veterans program to seek to employ physicians at the 
Department of Veterans Affairs on a without compensation basis in 
practice areas and specialties with staffing shortages and long appoint-
ment waiting times. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
NOVEMBER 12, 2014 
Mr. CULBERSON (for himself and Mr. O’ROURKE) introduced the following 
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 
A BILL 
To amend title 38, United States Code, to establish the 
Physician Ambassadors Helping Veterans program to 
seek to employ physicians at the Department of Veterans 
Affairs on a without compensation basis in practice areas 
and specialties with staffing shortages and long appoint-
ment waiting times. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Physician Ambas-
sadors Helping Veterans Act’’. 
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SEC. 2. PHYSICIAN AMBASSADORS HELPING VETERANS 
PROGRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter I of chapter 74 of title 
38, United States Code, is amended by inserting after sec-
tion 7405 the following new section: 
‘‘§ 7405A. Physician Ambassadors Helping Veterans 
program 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall seek to use 
the authority under section 7405 of this title to employ 
physicians on a without compensation basis in any prac-
tice area or speciality for which— 
‘‘(1) the average waiting time for veterans seek-
ing an appointment with a physician in such practice 
area or specialty exceeds the waiting time goals es-
tablished by the Department; or 
‘‘(2) the Department facility where the physi-
cian will be employed has demonstrated staffing 
shortages, as determined by the Secretary. 
‘‘(b) VOLUNTEER COORDINATORS.—There shall be in 
each medical facility of the Department a volunteer coordi-
nator. The volunteer coordinator for a medical facility 
shall— 
‘‘(1) seek to establish relationships with medical 
associations serving the area where the facility is lo-
cated; 
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‘‘(2) recruit physicians for employment on a 
without compensation basis in the facility; and 
‘‘(3) serve as the initial point of contact for 
physicians seeking employment on a without com-
pensation basis in the facility. 
‘‘(c) QUALIFICATIONS.—A physician employed on a 
without compensation basis shall agree, as a condition of 
being granted a credential or privilege to practice medicine 
in a facility of the Department, to commit to serving a 
minimum of 40 hours in the facility during the 12-month 
period beginning on the date on which such credential or 
privilege is granted. 
‘‘(d) CREDENTIALING PROCESS.—(1) The Secretary 
shall ensure that each physician who seeks employment 
at the Department on a without compensation basis re-
ceives a credential or privilege to practice medicine in the 
Department, or a decision that such a credential or privi-
lege will not be granted, by not later than 60 days after 
the date on which the physician requests such credential 
or privilege. 
‘‘(2) The director of a medical facility of the Depart-
ment shall approve, and accept the services of, any physi-
cian who meets the qualifications under subsection (c) and 
receives a credential or privilege to practice medicine in 
the facility under paragraph (1). 
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‘‘(e) ANNUAL REPORT.—Not later than March 31 of 
each year, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees 
on Veterans’ Affairs and the Committees on Appropria-
tions of the Senate and House of Representatives a report 
on physicians employed on a without compensation basis 
at the Department. Each such report shall include, for the 
year preceding the year during which the report is sub-
mitted, each of the following: 
‘‘(1) The number of physicians employed on a 
without compensation basis by the Department in 
each of the Veterans Integrated Service Networks. 
‘‘(2) Information about staffing levels and ap-
pointment waiting times for facilities located in each 
such Veterans Integrated Service Networks.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections 
at the beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting 
after the item relating to section 7405 the following new 
item: 
‘‘7405A. Physician Ambassadors Helping Veterans program.’’. 
Æ 
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