VA Provider Equity Act

Bill: 115-hr-1058
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Wenstrup, Brad R. [R-OH-2]
Introduced: 2017-02-14
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Department of Veterans Affairs

Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management

Health personnel

Veterans' medical care
Latest action: action_date: 2017-07-25
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

Summaries:
action_date: 2017-02-14
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><strong>VA Provider Equity Act</strong></p> <p>This bill includes podiatrists within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) definition of physician, and increases their pay grade to match other VA physician compensation.</p>

action_date: 2017-07-24
action_desc: Passed House amended
text: <p><strong>VA Provider Equity Act</strong></p> <p> (Sec. 2) This bill: (1) makes a Veterans Health Administration (VHA) doctor of podiatric medicine eligible for any supervisory position to the same degree as a VHA physician, and (2) increases the pay grade of podiatric surgeons to match the compensation of other VA surgeons, physicians, and dentists. </p> <p> The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) shall establish standards to ensure that specialists appointed to supervisory VHA positions do not provide direct clinical oversight for purposes of peer review or practice evaluation for providers of other clinical specialties.</p> <p>(Sec. 3) The bill revises the extension date from September 30, 2027, to September 30, 2026, for the $90 per month limit on a VA pension paid to veterans residing in nursing homes when their nursing costs are paid through title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act. </p>

tv_txt: I 115th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 1058 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES February 14, 2017 Mr. Wenstrup (for himself, Mr. Abraham , Ms. Brownley of California , and Mr. Ruiz ) 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.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the VA Provider Equity Act . 2. Role of podiatrists in Department of Veterans Affairs (a) Inclusion as physician (1) In general Subchapter I of chapter 74 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding 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 sections 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 Physicians, dentists, podiatrists, and inserting Physicians, 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 podiatry, after surgery, ; (2) by striking paragraph (5); and (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), respectively. (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 period of the Department of Veterans Affairs beginning 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 podiatrists, . (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. (g) Medical directors Section 7306(a)(4) of such title is amended by inserting , doctor of podiatric medicine, after doctor of medicine . (h) Application The amendments made by this section shall apply with respect to podiatrists employed by the Department of Veterans Affairs as of the date of the enactment of this Act or who are appointed on or after such date.

tv_txt: I 115th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 1058 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AN ACT To amend title 38, United States Code, to clarify the role of podiatrists in the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the VA Provider Equity Act . 2. Role of podiatrists in Department of Veterans Affairs (a) Inclusion as physician (1) In general Subchapter I of chapter 74 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section: 7413. Treatment of podiatrists; clinical oversight standards (a) Podiatrists Except as provided by subsection (b), a doctor of podiatric medicine who is appointed as a podiatrist under section 7401(1) of this title is eligible for any supervisory position in the Veterans Health Administration to the same degree that a physician appointed under such section is eligible for the position. (b) Establishment of clinical oversight standards The Secretary, in consultation with appropriate stakeholders, shall establish standards to ensure that specialists appointed in the Veterans Health Administration to supervisory positions do not provide direct clinical oversight for purposes of peer review or practice evaluation for providers of other clinical specialties. . (2) Clerical amendment The table of sections 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; clinical oversight standards. . (b) Modification and clarification of pay grade (1) Grade The list in section 7404(b) of such title is amended— (A) by striking PHYSICIAN AND DENTIST SCHEDULE and inserting PHYSICIAN AND SURGEON (MD/DO), PODIATRIC SURGEON (DPM), AND DENTIST AND ORAL SURGEON (DDS, DMD) SCHEDULE ; (B) by striking, Physician grade and inserting Physician and surgeon grade ; and (C) by striking PODIATRIST, CHIROPRACTOR, AND, and inserting CHIROPRACTOR AND . (2) Application The amendment made by paragraph (1) shall apply with respect to a pay period of the Department of Veterans Affairs beginning on or after the date that is 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act. 3. Extension of reduction in amount of pension furnished by Department of Veterans Affairs for certain veterans covered by medicaid plans for services furnished by nursing facilities Section 5503(d)(7) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by striking September 30, 2024 and inserting September 30, 2026 .

Passed the House of Representatives July 24, 2017. Karen L. Haas, Clerk.

tv_txt: IIB 115th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 1058 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES July 25, 2017 Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs AN ACT To amend title 38, United States Code, to clarify the role of podiatrists in the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the VA Provider Equity Act . 2. Role of podiatrists in Department of Veterans Affairs (a) Inclusion as physician (1) In general Subchapter I of chapter 74 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section: 7413. Treatment of podiatrists; clinical oversight standards (a) Podiatrists Except as provided by subsection (b), a doctor of podiatric medicine who is appointed as a podiatrist under section 7401(1) of this title is eligible for any supervisory position in the Veterans Health Administration to the same degree that a physician appointed under such section is eligible for the position. (b) Establishment of clinical oversight standards The Secretary, in consultation with appropriate stakeholders, shall establish standards to ensure that specialists appointed in the Veterans Health Administration to supervisory positions do not provide direct clinical oversight for purposes of peer review or practice evaluation for providers of other clinical specialties. . (2) Clerical amendment The table of sections 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; clinical oversight standards. . (b) Modification and clarification of pay grade (1) Grade The list in section 7404(b) of such title is amended— (A) by striking PHYSICIAN AND DENTIST SCHEDULE and inserting PHYSICIAN AND SURGEON (MD/DO), PODIATRIC SURGEON (DPM), AND DENTIST AND ORAL SURGEON (DDS, DMD) SCHEDULE ; (B) by striking, Physician grade and inserting Physician and surgeon grade ; and (C) by striking PODIATRIST, CHIROPRACTOR, AND, and inserting CHIROPRACTOR AND . (2) Application The amendment made by paragraph (1) shall apply with respect to a pay period of the Department of Veterans Affairs beginning on or after the date that is 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act. 3. Extension of reduction in amount of pension furnished by Department of Veterans Affairs for certain veterans covered by medicaid plans for services furnished by nursing facilities Section 5503(d)(7) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by striking September 30, 2024 and inserting September 30, 2026 .

Passed the House of Representatives July 24, 2017. Karen L. Haas, Clerk.