IIB 
116TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 3530 
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 
DECEMBER 18, 2019 
Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 
AN ACT 
To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Sec-
retary of Veterans Affairs to enforce the licensure re-
quirement for medical providers of the Department of 
Veterans Affairs. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
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SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Improving Confidence 
in Veterans’ Care Act’’. 
SEC. 2. COMPLIANCE WITH REQUIREMENTS FOR EXAM-
INING QUALIFICATIONS AND CLINICAL ABILI-
TIES OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AF-
FAIRS HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter I of chapter 74 of title 
38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end 
the following new section: 
‘‘§ 7414. Compliance with requirements for examining 
qualifications and clinical abilities of 
health care professionals 
‘‘(a) COMPLIANCE WITH CREDENTIALING REQUIRE-
MENTS.—The Secretary shall ensure that each medical 
center of the Department, in a consistent manner— 
‘‘(1) compiles, verifies, and reviews documenta-
tion for each health care professional of the Depart-
ment at such medical center regarding, at a min-
imum— 
‘‘(A) the professional licensure, certifi-
cation, or registration of the health care profes-
sional; 
‘‘(B) whether the health care professional 
holds a Drug Enforcement Administration reg-
istration; and 
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‘‘(C) the education, training, experience, 
malpractice history, and clinical competence of 
the health care professional; and 
‘‘(2) continuously monitors any changes to the 
matters under paragraph (1), including with respect 
to suspensions, restrictions, limitations, probations, 
denials, revocations, and other changes, relating to 
the failure of a health care professional to meet gen-
erally accepted standards of clinical practice in a 
manner that presents reasonable concern for the 
safety of patients. 
‘‘(b) REGISTRATION REGARDING CONTROLLED SUB-
STANCES.—(1) Except as provided by paragraph (2), the 
Secretary shall ensure that each covered health care pro-
fessional holds an active Drug Enforcement Administra-
tion registration. 
‘‘(2) The Secretary shall— 
‘‘(A) determine the circumstances in which a 
medical center of the Department must obtain a 
waiver under section 303 of the Controlled Sub-
stances Act (21 U.S.C. 823) with respect to covered 
health care professionals; and 
‘‘(B) establish a process for medical centers to 
request such waivers. 
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‘‘(3) In carrying out paragraph (1), the Secretary 
shall ensure that each medical center of the Department 
monitors the Drug Enforcement Administration registra-
tions of covered health care professionals at such medical 
center in a manner that ensures the medical center is 
made aware of any change in status in the registration 
by not later than 7 days after such change in status. 
‘‘(4) If a covered health care professional does not 
hold an active Drug Enforcement Administration registra-
tion, the Secretary shall carry out any of the following ac-
tions, as the Secretary determines appropriate: 
‘‘(A) Obtain a waiver pursuant to paragraph 
(2). 
‘‘(B) Transfer the health care professional to a 
position that does not require prescribing, dis-
pensing, administering, or conducting research with 
controlled substances. 
‘‘(C) Take adverse actions under subchapter V 
of this chapter, with respect to an employee of the 
Department, or terminate the services of a con-
tractor, with respect to a contractor of the Depart-
ment. 
‘‘(c) REVIEWS OF CONCERNS RELATING TO QUALITY 
OF CLINICAL CARE.—(1) The Secretary shall ensure that 
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