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II
113th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 1863
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
December 19, 2013Mr. 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.