A bill to establish in the Department of Veterans Affairs a continuing medical education program for licensed medical professionals to increase knowledge and recognition of medical conditions common to veterans and family members of veterans, and for other purposes.

Bill: 113-s-1863
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Brown, Sherrod [D-OH]
Introduced: 2013-12-19
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Department of Veterans Affairs

Internet and video services

Internet, web applications, social media

Medical education

Military personnel and dependents

Veterans' medical care
Latest action: action_date: 2013-12-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

Summaries:
action_date: 2013-12-19
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p>Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a continuing medical education program for medical professionals with the goal of: (1) increasing knowledge and recognition of medical conditions common to veterans and family members of veterans, and (2) improving outreach to veterans and family members.</p> <p>Requires the program to include education on: (1) dealing with patients who are veterans or family members; (2) identifying and treating common mental and physical conditions of veterans and family members; (3) programs and benefits available to veterans and family members through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), the Department of Labor, and such other federal agencies and non-federal organizations as the Secretary considers appropriate; and (4) the VA health care system.</p> <p>Directs the Secretary to: (1) carry out such program for five years on a VA website at no cost to participating medical professionals, and (2) ensure that the program is accredited in as many states as practicable.</p>

tv_txt: II 113th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 1863 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES December 19, 2013 Mr. Brown introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs A BILL To establish in the Department of Veterans Affairs a continuing medical education program for licensed medical professionals to increase knowledge and recognition of medical conditions common to veterans and family members of veterans, and for other purposes.

1. Department of Veterans Affairs continuing medical professional ed­u­ca­tion program (a) Establishment of continuing medical education program (1) In general The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall establish a continuing medical education program for medical professionals with the goal of— (A) increasing knowledge and recognition of medical conditions common to veterans and family members of veterans; and (B) improving outreach to veterans and family members of veterans. (2) Education provided The program shall include education on the following: (A) Dealing with patients who are veterans or family members of veterans. (B) Identifying and treating common mental and physical conditions of veterans and family members of veterans. (C) Programs and benefits available to veterans and family members of veterans through the following organizations: (i) The Department of Veterans Affairs. (ii) The Department of Labor. (iii) Such other Federal agencies and non-Federal organizations as the Secretary considers appropriate. (D) The health care system of the Department of Veterans Affairs. (E) Such other matters as the Secretary considers appropriate. (b) Duration of program The program shall be carried out during the five-year period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act. (c) Administration of program (1) In general The Secretary shall carry out the program on an Internet website of the Department of Veterans Affairs. (2) Curriculum and credit provided The Secretary shall determine the curriculum of the program and the number of hours of credit to provide to participating medical professionals for continuing medical education. (3) Accreditation The Secretary shall ensure that the program is accredited in as many States as practicable. (4) Consistency with existing rules The Secretary shall ensure that the program is consistent with the rules and regulations of the following: (A) The medical licensing agency of each State in which the program is accredited. (B) Such medical credentialing organizations as the Secretary considers appropriate. (5) User cost The Secretary shall carry out the program at no cost to participating medical professionals. (d) Medical professional defined In this section, the term medical professional means any of the following individuals who are licensed by an appropriate medical authority in the United States and in good standing: (1) A doctor. (2) A nurse. (3) A physician assistant. (4) A psychologist. (5) A psychiatrist. (6) Such other individuals as the Secretary considers appropriate.