SEC. 2. STANDARDS FOR APPOINTMENT AND PRACTICE OF 
PHYSICIANS IN DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS 
AFFAIRS MEDICAL FACILITIES. 
(a) STANDARDS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter I of chapter 74 
of title 38, United States Code, is amended by in-
serting after section 7402 the following new section: 
‘‘§ 7402A. Appointment and practice of physicians: 
standards 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall, acting 
through the Under Secretary for Health, prescribe stand-
ards to be met by individuals in order to qualify for ap-
pointment in the Administration in the position of physi-
cian and to practice as a physician in medical facilities 
of the Administration. The standards shall incorporate the 
requirements of this section. 
‘‘(b) DISCLOSURE OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BE-
FORE APPOINTMENT.—Each individual seeking appoint-
ment in the Administration in the position of physician 
shall do the following: 
‘‘(1) Provide the Secretary a full and complete 
explanation of the following: 
‘‘(A) Each lawsuit, civil action, or other 
claim (whether open or closed) brought against 
the individual for medical malpractice or neg-
ligence (other than a lawsuit, action, or claim 
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closed without any judgment against or pay-
ment by or on behalf of the individual). 
‘‘(B) Each payment made by or on behalf 
of the individual to settle any lawsuit, action, or 
claim covered by subparagraph (A). 
‘‘(C) Each investigation or disciplinary ac-
tion taken against the individual relating to the 
individual’s performance as a physician. 
‘‘(2) Submit a written request and authoriza-
tion to the State licensing board of each State in 
which the individual holds or has held a license to 
practice medicine to disclose to the Secretary any in-
formation in the records of such State on the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(A) Each lawsuit, civil action, or other 
claim brought against the individual for medical 
malpractice or negligence covered by paragraph 
(1)(A) that occurred in such State. 
‘‘(B) Each payment made by or on behalf 
of the individual to settle any lawsuit, action, or 
claim covered by subparagraph (A). 
‘‘(C) Each medical malpractice judgment 
against the individual by the courts or adminis-
trative agencies or bodies of such State. 
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‘‘(D) Each disciplinary action taken or 
under consideration against the individual by 
an administrative agency or body of such State. 
‘‘(E) Any change in the status of the li-
cense to practice medicine issued the individual 
by such State, including any voluntary or non-
disciplinary surrendering of such license by the 
individual. 
‘‘(F) Any open investigation of the indi-
vidual by an administrative agency or body of 
such State, or any outstanding allegation 
against the individual before such an adminis-
trative agency or body. 
‘‘(c) DISCLOSURE OF CERTAIN INFORMATION FOL-
LOWING APPOINTMENT.—(1) Each individual appointed 
in the Administration in the position of physician after 
the date of the enactment of the Veterans Health Care 
Quality Improvement Act shall, as a condition of service 
under the appointment, disclose to the Secretary, not later 
than 30 days after the occurrence of such event, the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(A) A judgment against the individual for 
medical malpractice or negligence. 
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‘‘(B) A payment made by or on behalf of the 
individual to settle any lawsuit, action, or claim dis-
closed under paragraph (1) or (2) of subsection (b). 
‘‘(C) Any disposition of or material change in a 
matter disclosed under paragraph (1) or (2) of sub-
section (b). 
‘‘(2) Each individual appointed in the Administration 
in the position of physician as of the date of the enactment 
of the Veterans Health Care Quality Improvement Act 
shall do the following: 
‘‘(A) Not later than the end of the 60-day pe-
riod beginning on the date of the enactment of that 
Act and as a condition of service under the appoint-
ment after the end of that period, submit the re-
quest and authorization described in subsection 
(b)(2). 
‘‘(B) Agree, as a condition of service under the 
appointment, to disclose to the Secretary, not later 
than 30 days after the occurrence of such event, the 
following: 
‘‘(i) A judgment against the individual for 
medical malpractice or negligence. 
‘‘(ii) A payment made by or on behalf of 
the individual to settle any lawsuit, action, or 
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claim disclosed pursuant to subparagraph (A) 
or under this subparagraph. 
‘‘(iii) Any disposition of or material change 
in a matter disclosed pursuant to subparagraph 
(A) or under this subparagraph. 
‘‘(3) Each individual appointed in the Administration 
in the position of physician shall, as part of the biennial 
review of the performance of the physician under the ap-
pointment, submit the request and authorization described 
in subsection (b)(2). The requirement of this paragraph 
is in addition to the requirements of paragraph (1) or (2), 
as applicable. 
‘‘(d) INVESTIGATION OF DISCLOSED MATTERS.—(1) 
The Regional Director of the Veterans Integrated Services 
Network (VISN) in which an individual is seeking appoint-
ment in the Administration in the position of physician 
shall perform a comprehensive investigation (in such man-
ner as the standards required by this section shall specify) 
of each matter disclosed under subsection (b) with respect 
to the individual. 
‘‘(2) The Regional Director of the Veterans Inte-
grated Services Network in which an individual is ap-
pointed in the Administration in the position of physician 
shall perform a comprehensive investigation (in a manner 
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so specified) of each matter disclosed under subsection (c) 
with respect to the individual. 
‘‘(3) The results of each investigation performed 
under this subsection shall be fully documented. 
‘‘(e) APPROVAL OF APPOINTMENTS BY REGIONAL 
DIRECTORS OF VISNS.—(1) An individual may not be ap-
pointed in the Administration in the position of physician 
without the approval of the Regional Director of the Vet-
erans Integrated Services Network in which the individual 
will first serve under the appointment. 
‘‘(2) In approving the appointment under this sub-
section of an individual for whom any matters have been 
disclosed under subsection (b), a Regional Director shall— 
‘‘(A) certify in writing the completion of the 
performance of the investigation under subsection 
(d)(1) of each such matter, including the results of 
such investigation; and 
‘‘(B) provide a written justification why any 
matters raised in the course of such investigation do 
not disqualify the individual from appointment. 
‘‘(f) BOARD CERTIFICATION.—(1) Except as pro-
vided in paragraph (2), an individual may not be ap-
pointed in the Administration in the position of physician 
unless the individual is board certified in the specialties 
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