A bill to improve authorities for performance of medical disabilities examinations by contract physicians for benefits under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.

Bill: 113-s-1751
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Heller, Dean [R-NV]
Introduced: 2013-11-20
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Disability and paralysis

Disability assistance

Health personnel

Licensing and registrations

Medical tests and diagnostic methods

Public contracts and procurement

Veterans' medical care

Veterans' pensions and compensation
Latest action: action_date: 2013-11-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

Summaries:
action_date: 2013-11-20
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p>Amends the Veterans Benefits Act of 2003 to extend until December 31, 2016, the authority of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to provide for persons other than VA employees (i.e., contract physicians) to conduct medical disability examinations of applicants for benefits under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. </p> <p>Permits licensed, VA-contracted physicians to conduct such examinations at any location in any state, the District of Columbia, or a Commonwealth, territory, or possession of the United States, so long as the examination is authorized under the contract.</p> <p>Amends the Veterans' Benefits Improvement Act of 1996 to provide similar authorities with respect to permissible examination locations to licensed physicians under the pilot program authorizing the VA to use contract physicians to perform medical disability examinations of applicants for benefits under laws carried out through the Under Secretary for Benefits. Expands from 10 to 15 the maximum number of VA regional offices through which the Secretary is authorized to carry out such pilot program. Sets forth criteria for the selection of such regional offices.</p> <p>Directs the Secretary to conduct an annual data analysis (including an analysis of backlogged claims, pending workloads, and the timeliness of completed cases) to determine the regional offices requiring support.</p>

tv_txt: II 113th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 1751 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES November 20, 2013 Mr. Heller introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs A BILL To improve authorities for performance of medical disabilities examinations by contract physicians for benefits under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.

1. Improvements to authority for performance of medical disabilities examinations by contract physician (a) Extension of temporary authority Subsection (c) of section 704 of the Veterans Benefits Act of 2003 ( 38 U.S.C. 5101 note) is amended by striking December 31, 2013 and inserting December 31, 2016 . (b) Licensure of contract physicians (1) Temporary authority Such section 704 is further amended— (A) by redesignating subsection (d) as subsection (e); and (B) by inserting after subsection (c) the following new subsection (d): (d) Licensure of contract physicians (1) In general Notwithstanding any law regarding the licensure of physicians, a physician described in paragraph (2) may conduct an examination pursuant to a contract entered into under subsection (b) at any location in any State, the District of Columbia, or a Commonwealth, territory, or possession of the United States, so long as the examination is within the scope of the authorized duties under such contract. (2) Physician described A physician described in this paragraph is a physician who— (A) has a current license to practice the health care profession of the physician; and (B) is performing authorized duties for the Department of Veterans Affairs pursuant to a contract entered into under subsection (b). . (2) Pilot program Section 504 of the Veterans’ Benefits Improvement Act of 1996 ( 38 U.S.C. 5101 note) is amended— (A) by redesignating subsections (c) and (d) as subsections (d) and (e), respectively; and (B) by inserting after subsection (b) the following new subsection (c): (c) Licensure of contract physicians (1) In general Notwithstanding any law regarding the licensure of physicians, a physician described in paragraph (2) may conduct an examination pursuant to a contract entered into under subsection (a) at any location in any State, the District of Columbia, or a Commonwealth, territory, or possession of the United States, so long as the examination is within the scope of the authorized duties under such contract. (2) Physician described A physician described in this paragraph is a physician who— (A) has a current license to practice the health care profession of the physician; and (B) is performing authorized duties for the Department of Veterans Affairs pursuant to a contract entered into under subsection (a). . (c) Expansion of pilot program Subsection (b) of such section 504 is amended to read as follows: (b) Locations (1) Number The Secretary may carry out the pilot program under this section through not more than 15 regional offices of the Department of Veterans Affairs. (2) Selection The Secretary shall select the regional offices under paragraph (1) by analyzing appropriate data to determine the regional offices that require support. Such appropriate data shall include— (A) the number of backlogged claims; (B) the total pending case workload; (C) the length of time cases have been pending; (D) the accuracy of completed cases; (E) the overall timeliness of completed cases; (F) the availability and workload of the examination units and physicians of the medical centers in the regional office; and (G) any other data the Secretary determines appropriate. (3) Annual analysis The Secretary shall carry out the data analysis of the regional offices under paragraph (2) during each year in which the program under this section is carried out to determine the regional offices selected under paragraph (1) for such year. .