,,ii  #aadth ,,congress  #ast ,session  
,s4 #bage  ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of     
,,the ,,united ,,states  ,october #h1   
#bjae,mr4 ,tester introduced the        
following bill2 which was read twice and
 referred to the ,committee on          
,veterans' ,affairs  ,a ,,bill  ,to     
amend title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 
to clarify the role of podiatrists in   
the ,department of ,veterans ,affairs1  
and for other purposes4  #a4 ,short     
title ,this ,act may be cited as the    
,department of ,veterans ,affairs       
,provider ,equity ,act4  #b4 ,role of   
podiatrists in ,department of ,veterans 
,affairs  7a7 ,inclusion as physician   
7#a7 ,in general ,subchapter ,i of      
chapter #gd of title #ch1 ,united       
,states ,code1 is amended by adding at  
the end the following new section3      
#gdac4 ,treatment of podiatrists ,for   
purposes of this chapter1 the term      
physician includes a podiatrist4  4     
7#b7 ,clerical amendment ,the table of  
sections at the beginning of chapter #gd

 of such title is amended by inserting  
after the item relating to section #gdab
 the following new item3  #gdac4        
,treatment of podiatrists4  4  7#c7     
,conforming amendment ,section #gdja7a7 
of such title is amended by striking    
,physicians1 dentists1 podiatrists1 and 
inserting ,physicians1 dentists14  7b7  
,qualifications ,section #gdjb7;b7 of   
such title is amended--  7#a7 in        
paragraph 7#a7-- 7,a7 in subparagraph   
7,a71 by striking or of doctor of       
osteopathy and inserting 1 doctor of    
osteopathy1 or doctor of podiatric      
medicine2 and  7,b7 in subparagraph     
7,c71 by inserting podiatry1 after      
surgery12  7#b7 by striking paragraph   
7#e72 and  7#c7 by redesignating        
paragraphs 7#f7 through 7#ad7 as        
paragraphs 7#e7 through 7#ac71          
respectively4  7c7 ,period of           
appointment ,section #gdjc7;a77#b7 of   
such title is amended--  7#a7 by        
striking subparagraph 7,c72 and  7#b7 by
 redesignating subparagraphs 7,d7       

through 7,h7 as subparagraphs 7,c7      
through 7,g71 respectively4  7d7        
,modification of pay grade  7#a7 ,grade 
,the list in section #gdjd7;b7 of such  
title is amended by striking            
,,podiatrist1 ,,chiropractor1 and       
inserting ,,chiropractor4  7#b7         
,application ,the amendment made by     
paragraph 7#a7 shall apply with respect 
to any pay period of the ,department of 
,veterans ,affairs beginning on or after
 the date that is #cj days after the    
date of the enactment of this ,act4  7e7
 ,contracts for scarce services ,section
 #gdji7;a7 of such title is amended by  
striking podiatrists14  7f7 ,personnel  
administration ,section #gdba7;b7 of    
such title is amended--  7#a7 by        
striking paragraph 7#c72 and  7#b7 by   
redesignating paragraphs 7#d7 through   
7#h7 as paragraphs 7#c7 through 7#g71   
respectively4  7g7 ,medical directors   
,section #gcjf7;a77#d7 of such title is 
amended-- 7#a7 by striking either2 and  
7#b7 by inserting 1 a qualified doctor  

of podiatric medicine1 after doctor of  
medicine4  7h7 ,application ,the        
amendments made by this section shall   
apply with respect to podiatrists who   
are 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 date4