I 
114TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 3016 
To amend title 38, United States Code, to clarify the role of podiatrists 
in the Department of Veterans Affairs. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JULY 9, 2015 
Mr. WENSTRUP (for himself, Mr. BENISHEK, Mr. ROE of Tennessee, Mr. 
ABRAHAM, Mr. RUIZ, and Ms. BROWNLEY of California) introduced the 
following bill; which was 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. 
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 ‘‘VA Provider Equity 
Act’’. 
SEC. 2. ROLE OF PODIATRISTS IN DEPARTMENT OF VET-
ERANS AFFAIRS. 
(a) INCLUSION AS PHYSICIAN.— 
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(1) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter I of chapter 74 
of title 38, United States Code, is amended by add-
ing at the end the following new section: 
‘‘§ 7413. Treatment of podiatrists 
‘‘For purposes of this chapter, the term ‘physician’ 
includes a podiatrist.’’. 
(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sec-
tions at the beginning of such chapter 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 ‘‘Physi-
cians, dentists, podiatrists,’’ and inserting ‘‘Physi-
cians, 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 ‘‘po-
diatry,’’ after ‘‘surgery,’’; 
(2) by striking paragraph (5); and 
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(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), re-
spectively. 
(d) MODIFICATION OF PAY GRADE.— 
(1) GRADE.—The list in section 7404(b) of 
such title is amended by striking ‘‘PODIATRIST,’’. 
(2) APPLICATION.—The amendment made by 
paragraph (1) shall apply with respect to a pay pe-
riod of the Department of Veterans Affairs begin-
ning 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 ‘‘podia-
trists,’’. 
(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. 
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