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

Bill: 114-s-2049
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Brown, Sherrod [D-OH]
Introduced: 2015-09-17
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Internet and video services

Internet, web applications, social media

Medical education

Medical tests and diagnostic methods

Mental health

Veterans' medical care
Latest action: action_date: 2016-05-24
text: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 114-702.

Summaries:
action_date: 2015-09-17
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p>This bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to establish a continuing medical education program for non-VA medical professionals, with the goal of: (1) increasing knowledge and recognition of medical conditions common to veterans and family members, and (2) improving outreach to veterans and family members.</p> <p>The program must 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 VA, the Department of Labor, and other federal agencies and non-federal organizations; and (4) the VA health care system.</p> <p>The VA shall: (1) carry out such program for five years on a VA website at no cost to participating non-VA medical professionals, and (2) ensure that the program is accredited in as many states as practicable.</p>

tv_txt: II 114th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 2049 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES September 17, 2015 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 non-Department medical professionals who treat veterans and family members of veterans 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 education program for certain non-Department medical professionals (a) Establishment of continuing medical education program (1) In general The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall establish a continuing medical education program for non-Department 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 non-Department 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 non-Department medical professionals. (d) Non-Department medical professional defined (1) In general In this section, the term non-Department medical professional means any individual specified in paragraph (2) who is licensed by an appropriate medical authority in the United States and in good standing, is not an employee of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and provides care to veterans or family members of veterans under the laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. (2) Individual specified An individual specified in this paragraph is any of the following individuals: (A) A doctor. (B) A nurse. (C) A physician assistant. (D) A psychologist. (E) A psychiatrist. (F) Such other individuals as the Secretary considers appropriate.