S. 2279 — Introduced in Senate

II 114th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 2279 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES November 10, 2015 Mr. Merkley (for himself, Mr. Rounds, Mr. Tillis, Mrs. Shaheen, Mr. Warner, Mr. Brown, Mr. Wyden, and Mr. Tester) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs A BILL To require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a program to increase efficiency in the recruitment and hiring by the Department of Veterans Affairs of health care workers that are undergoing separation from the Armed Forces, to create uniform credentialing standards for certain health care professionals of the Department, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Veterans Health Care Staffing Improvement Act. 2. Program to increase efficiency in the recruitment and hiring by the Department of Veterans Affairs of health care workers undergoing separation from the Armed Forces (a) Program The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall, in coordination with the Secretary of Defense, carry out a program to recruit individuals who are undergoing separation from the Armed Forces and who served in a health care capacity while serving as a member of the Armed Forces. The program shall be known as the Docs-to-Doctors Program. (b) Sharing of information (1) Submittal of list For purposes of carrying out the program, not less frequently than once per year (or a shorter period that the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the Secretary of Defense may jointly specify), the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs a list of members of the Armed Forces, including the reserve components, who— (A) served in a health care capacity while serving as a member of the Armed Forces; (B) are undergoing or have undergone separation from the Armed Forces during the period covered by the list; and (C) will be discharged from the Armed Forces under honorable conditions, as determined by the Secretary of Defense, or have been discharged from the Armed Forces under honorable conditions during the period covered by the list. (2) Use of occupational codes Each list submitted under paragraph (1) shall include members of the Armed Forces who were assigned a Military Occupational Specialty code, an Air Force Specialty Code, or a United States Navy rating indicative of service in a health care capacity. (3) Information included Each list submitted under paragraph (1) shall include the following information, to the extent such information is available to the Secretary of Defense, with respect to each member of the Armed Forces included in such list: (A) Contact information. (B) Rank upon separation from the Armed Forces. (C) A description of health care experience while serving as a member of the Armed Forces and other relevant health care experience, including any relevant credential, such as a certificate, certification, or license, including the name of the institution or organization that issued the credential. (4) Consultation with Secretary of Homeland Security In submitting each list under paragraph (1), the Secretary of Defense shall consult with the Secretary of Homeland Security with respect to matters concerning the Coast Guard when it is not operating as a service in the Navy. (c) Resolution of barriers to employment (1) In general In carrying out the program, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall, in coordination with the Secretary of Defense, work to resolve any barriers relating to credentialing or to specific hiring rules, procedures, and processes of the Department of Veterans Affairs that may delay or prevent the hiring of individuals who are undergoing separation from the Armed Forces and who served in a health care capacity while serving as a member of the Armed Forces, including by reconciling different credentialing processes and standards between the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense. (2) Report If the Secretary of Veterans Affairs determines that a barrier described in paragraph (1) cannot be resolved under such paragraph, the Secretary shall, not later than 90 days after the discovery of the barrier, submit to Congress a report that includes such recommendations for legislative and administrative action as the Secretary considers appropriate to resolve the barrier, including any barrier imposed by a State. (d) Treatment of applications for employment An application for employment in the Department of Veterans Affairs in a health care capacity received by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs from a member or former member of the Armed Forces who is on a list submitted to the Secretary under subsection (b) shall not be considered an application from outside the work force of the Department for purposes of section 3330 of title 5, United States Code, and section 335.105 of title 5, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on the date of the enactment of this Act), if the application is received not later than one year after the separation of the member or former member from the Armed Forces. 3. Uniform credentialing standards for certain health care professionals of the Department of Veterans Affairs (a) In general Subchapter II of chapter 74 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 7423 the following new section: 7423A. Personnel administration: uniform credentialing process (a) Uniform process The Secretary shall implement a uniform credentialing process for employees of the Veterans Health Administration for each position specified in section 7421(b) of this title. (b) Recognition throughout Administration If an employee of the Administration in a position specified in section 7421(b) of this title is credentialed under this section for purposes of practicing in a location within the Administration, such credential shall be deemed to be sufficient for the employee to practice in any location within the Administration. (c) Renewal (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), the Secretary may provide for the renewal of credentials under this section pursuant to such regulations as the Secretary may prescribe for such purpose. (2) Renewal of credentials under this section may not be required solely because an employee moves from one facility of the Department to another. . (b) Clerical amendment The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 74 of such title is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 7423 the following new item: 7423A. Personnel administration: uniform credentialing process. . (c) Effective date The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall implement the uniform credentialing process required under section 7423A of such title, as added by subsection (a), not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act. 4. Provision of full practice authority for advanced practice registered nurses, physician assistants, and other health care professionals of the Department of Veterans Affairs (a) Full practice authority The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall provide full practice authority to advanced practice registered nurses, physician assistants, and such other licensed health care professionals of the Department of Veterans Affairs as the Secretary considers appropriate consistent with the education, training, and certification of such health care professionals. (b) Inapplicability of State limitations Full practice authority shall be provided by the Secretary under subsection (a) to health care professionals described in that subsection without regard to any limitation that would otherwise be imposed on the health care practice of such professionals by a licensing or credentialing body of a State or otherwise under State law. (c) Definitions In this section: (1) Advanced practice registered nurse The term advanced practice registered nurse has the meaning given that term in section 5509(e)(1) of Public Law 111–148 (42 U.S.C. 1395ww note). (2) Full practice authority The term full practice authority means— (A) with respect to an advanced practice registered nurse, the full scope of practice for the area of nursing practiced by the advanced practice registered nurse as determined by the national professional association or organization, a successor association or organization, or any other appropriate entity as determined by the Secretary for such area of nursing; (B) with respect to a physician assistant, the full scope of practice for the area of medicine practiced by the physician assistant as determined by the national professional association or organization, a successor association or organization, or any other appropriate entity as determined by the Secretary for such area of medicine; and (C) with respect to any other licensed health care professional not specified in subparagraph (A) or (B), the full scope of practice for the area of medicine practiced by the licensed health care professional as determined by the national professional association or organization, a successor association or organization, or any other appropriate entity as determined by the Secretary for such area of medicine. (3) Physician assistant The term physician assistant has the meaning given that term in section 1861(aa)(5)(A) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x(aa)(5)(A)).