,i  #aae? ,,congress  #a/ ,session  ,h4 
,r4 #cbfb  ,,9 ,,! ,,h\se ,,(           
,,repres5tatives  ,july #ag1 #bjag,ms4  
,ku/] ( ,new ,hamp%ire 7= h]self & ,mr4 
,b]gman7 introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2 :i* 0 
ref]r$ to ! ,committee on ,vet]ans'     
,affairs  ,a ,,bill  ,to require !      
,secret>y ( ,vet]ans ,affairs to c>ry   
out a pilot program to provide          
educational assi/ance to c]ta9 =m]      
memb]s ( ! ,arm$ ,=ces = education &    
tra9+ z physician assi/ants ( !         
,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs1 to       
e/abli% pay grades & require competitive
 pay = physician assi/ants ( !          
,dep>tm5t1 & = o!r purposes4  #a4 ,%ort 
title ,?is ,act may be cit$ z ! ,gr[    
,our ,own ,directive3 ,physician        
,assi/ant ,employm5t & ,education ,act (
 #bjag4  #b4 ,pilot program to provide  
educational assi/ance to physician      
assi/ants to be employ$ at ! ,dep>tm5t (
 ,vet]ans ,affairs  7a7 ,pilot program  
7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,! ,secret>y ( ,vet]ans   
,affairs %all c>ry out a pilot program  

to be kn[n z ! ,gr[ ,our ,own ,directive
 or ,g4,o4,o4,d4 pilot program 79 ?is   
section ref]r$ to z ! pilot program7 to 
provide educational assi/ance to c]ta9  
=m] memb]s ( ! ,arm$ ,=ces = education &
 tra9+ z physician assi/ants ( !        
,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs4  7#b7    
,in=mation on pilot program ,! ,secret>y
 %all provide in=mation on ! pilot      
program to eligible individuals "u      
subsection 7b71 includ+ in=mation on    
application requirem5ts & a li/ (       
entities ) :i* ! ,secret>y has p>tn]$ "u
 subsection 7g74  7b7 ,eligible         
individuals ,an individual is eligible  
to p>ticipate 9 ! pilot program if !    
individual-- 7#a7 has m$ical or milit>y 
heal? exp]i5ce ga9$ :ile s]v+ z a memb] 
( ! ,arm$ ,=ces2  7#b7 has receiv$ a    
c]tificate1 associate degree1           
baccalaureate degree1 ma/]'s degree1 or 
po/baccalaureate tra9+ 9 a sci5ce relat+
 to heal? c>e2  7#c7 has p>ticipat$ 9 ! 
deliv]y ( heal? c>e s]vices or relat$   
m$ical s]vices1 includ+ p>ticipation 9  

milit>y tra9+ relat+ to ! id5tification1
 evaluation1 treatm5t1 & prev5tion (    
diseases & disord]s2 &  7#d7 does n h a 
degree ( doctor ( m$ic9e1 doctor (      
o/eopa?y1 or doctor ( d5ti/ry4  7c7     
,duration ,! pilot program %all be c>ri$
 out dur+ ! five-ye> p]iod beg9n+ on !  
date t is #ahj days aft] ! date ( !     
enactm5t ( ?is ,act4  7d7 ,selection    
7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,! ,secret>y %all select n
 less ?an #bej eligible individuals "u  
subsection 7b7 to p>ticipate 9 ! pilot  
program4  7#b7 ,priority = selection ,9 
select+ individuals to p>ticipate 9 !   
pilot program "u p>agraph 7#a71 !       
,secret>y %all give priority to ! foll[+
 individuals3  7,a7 ,individuals :o     
p>ticipat$ 9 ! ,int]m$iate ,c>e         
,te*nician ,pilot ,program ( ! ,dep>tm5t
 t 0 c>ri$ out by ! ,secret>y betwe5    
,janu>y #bjaa & ,febru>y #bjae4  7,b7   
,individuals :o agree to be employ$ z a 
physician assi/ant = ! ,vet]ans ,heal?  
,adm9i/ration at a m$ical facility ( !  
,dep>tm5t locat$ 9 a community t--  7i7 

is designat$ z a m$ically und]s]v$      
population "u section #ccj7;b77#c77;,a7 
( ! ,public ,heal? ,s]vice ,act 7#db    
,u4,s4,c4 #bed;b7b77#c77;,a772 &  7ii7  
is 9 a ,/ate ) a p] capita population ( 
vet]ans ( m ?an #i p]c5t accord+ to !   
,national ,c5t] = ,vet]ans ,analysis &  
,/ati/ics & ! ,unit$ ,/ates ,c5sus      
,bureau4  7e7 ,educational assi/ance    
7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,9 c>ry+ out ! pilot      
program1 ! ,secret>y %all provide       
educational assi/ance to individuals    
p>ticipat+ 9 ! pilot program1 includ+   
?r\gh ! use ( s*ol>%ips1 to cov] ! co/s 
to su* individuals ( obta9+ a ma/]'s    
degree 9 physician assi/ant /udies or a 
simil> ma/]'s degree4  7#b7 ,use ( exi/+
 programs ,9 provid+ educational        
assi/ance "u p>agraph 7#a71 ! ,secret>y 
%all use ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs
 ,heal? ,pr(essionals ,educational      
,assi/ance ,program "u *apt] #gf ( title
 #ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 & su* o!r    
educational assi/ance programs ( !      
,dep>tm5t z ! ,secret>y consid]s        

appropriate4  7#c7 ,use ( s*ol>%ips ,!  
,secret>y %all provide n less ?an #ce   
s*ol>%ips "u ! pilot program to         
individuals p>ticipat+ 9 ! pilot program
 dur+ ea* ye> 9 :i* ! pilot program is  
c>ri$ out4  7f7 ,p]iod ( obligat$ s]vice
  7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,! ,secret>y %all ent]  
into an agreem5t ) ea* individual       
p>ticipat+ 9 ! pilot program 9 :i* su*  
individual agrees to be employ$ z a     
physician assi/ant = ! ,vet]ans ,heal?  
,adm9i/ration = a p]iod ( obligat$      
s]vice specifi$ 9 p>agraph 7#b74  7#b7  
,p]iod specifi$ ,) respect to ea*       
individual p>ticipat+ 9 ! pilot program1
 ! p]iod ( obligat$ s]vice specifi$ 9   
?is p>agraph = ! individual is--  7,a7  
if ! individual is p>ticipat+ 9 ! pilot 
program ?r\gh a program describ$ 9      
subsection 7e77#b7 t specifies a p]iod (
 obligat$ s]vice1 ! p]iod specifi$ )    
respect to su* program2 or  7,b7 if !   
individual is p>ticipat+ 9 ! pilot      
program o!r ?an ?r\gh a program describ$
 9 su* subsection1 or if su* program    

does n specify a p]iod ( obligat$       
s]vice1 a p]iod ( ?ree ye>s or su* o!r  
p]iod z ! ,secret>y consid]s appropriate
 = purposes ( ! pilot program4  7g7     
,brea*  7#a7 ,liability ,except z       
provid$ 9 p>agraph 7#b71 an individual  
:o p>ticipates 9 ! pilot program & fails
 to satisfy ! p]iod ( obligat$ s]vice "u
 subsection 7f7 %all be liable to !     
,unit$ ,/ates1 9 lieu ( su* obligat$    
s]vice1 = ! am\nt t has be5 paid or is  
payable to or on behalf ( ! individual  
"u ! pilot program1 r$uc$ by !          
proportion t ! numb] ( days s]v$ =      
completion ( ! p]iod ( obligat$ s]vice  
be>s to ! total numb] ( days 9 ! p]iod (
 obligat$ s]vice ( su* individual4  7#b7
 ,exception ,if an individual is        
p>ticipat+ 9 ! pilot program ?r\gh a    
program describ$ 9 subsection 7e77#b7 t 
specifies a p]iod ( obligat$ s]vice1 !  
liability ( ! individual = fail+ to     
satisfy ! p]iod ( obligat$ s]vice "u    
subsection 7f7 %all be det]m9$ z        
specifi$ ) respect to su* program4  7h7 

,m5tors ,! ,secret>y %all ensure t a    
physician assi/ant m5tor or m5tors are  
available = individuals p>ticipat+ 9 !  
pilot program at ea* facility ( !       
,vet]ans ,heal? ,adm9i/ration at :i* a  
p>ticipant 9 ! pilot program is employ$4
  7i7 ,p>tn]%ips ,9 c>ry+ out ! pilot   
program1 ! ,secret>y %all seek to p>tn] 
) ! foll[+3 7#a7 ,n less ?an #ae        
in/itutions ( high] education t--  7,a7 
(f] a ma/]'s degree program 9 physician 
assi/ant /udies or a simil> area ( /udy 
t is accr$it$ by ! ,accr$itation ,review
 ,commission on ,education = !          
,physician ,assi/ant2 &  7,b7 agree--   
7i7 to gu>antee seats 9 su* ma/]'s      
degree program = individuals p>ticipat+ 
9 ! pilot program :o meet ! entrance    
requirem5ts = su* ma/]'s degree program2
 &  7ii7 to provide individuals         
p>ticipat+ 9 ! pilot program ) in=mation
 on admissions crit]ia & ! admissions   
process4  7#b7 ,o!r in/itutions ( high] 
education t (f] programs 9 physician    
assi/ant /udies or o!r simil> areas (   

/udies t are accr$it$ by ! ,accr$itation
 ,review ,commission on ,education = !  
,physician ,assi/ant4  7#c7 ,!          
,transition ,assi/ance ,program ( !     
,dep>tm5t ( ,def5se4  7#d7 ,! ,vet]ans' 
,employm5t & ,tra9+ ,s]vice ( !         
,dep>tm5t ( ,labor4  7#e7 ,programs     
c>ri$ out "u *apt] #da ( title #ch1     
,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 = ! purpose (      
m>ket+ & adv]tis+ ! pilot program to    
vet]ans & memb]s ( ! ,arm$ ,=ces :o may 
be int]e/$ 9 ! pilot program4  7j7      
,adm9i/ration ( pilot program ,=        
purposes ( c>ry+ out ! pilot program1 ! 
,secret>y %all appo9t or select )9 !    
,(fice ( ,physician ,assi/ant ,s]vices (
 ! ,vet]ans ,heal? ,adm9i/ration !      
foll[+3  7#a7 ,a ,deputy ,director =    
,education & ,c>e] ,developm5t (        
,physician ,assi/ants :o-- 7,a7 is a    
physician assi/ant1 a vet]an1 & employ$ 
by ! ,dep>tm5t z ( ! date ( ! enactm5t (
 ?is ,act2  7,b7 is responsible =-- 7i7 
ov]see+ ! pilot program2  7ii7 recruit+ 
c&idates to p>ticipate 9 ! pilot        

program2  7iii7 coord9at+ ) individuals 
p>ticipat+ 9 ! pilot program & assi/+ ^?
 individuals 9 apply+ & be+ admitt$ to a
 ma/]'s degree program "u ! pilot       
program2 &  7iv7 provid+ in=mation to   
eligible individuals "u subsection 7b7 )
 respect to ! pilot program2 &  7,c7 may
 be employ$ 9 ! field at a m$ical c5t] (
 ! ,dep>tm5t4  7#b7 ,a ,deputy ,director
 ( ,recruitm5t & ,ret5tion :o--  7,a7 is
 a physician assi/ant1 a vet]an1 &      
employ$ by ! ,dep>tm5t z ( ! date ( !   
enactm5t ( ?is ,act2  7,b7 is           
responsible =-- 7i7 id5tify+ & coord9at+
 ! ne$s ( ! pilot program & assi/ !     
,secret>y 9 provid+ m5tors "u subsection
 7h7 to p>ticipants 9 ! pilot program2 &
  7ii7 coord9at+ ! /aff ( facilities ( !
 ,vet]ans ,heal? ,adm9i/ration ) respect
 to id5tify+ employm5t positions &      
m5tors "u subsection 7h7 = p>ticipants 9
 ! pilot program2 &  7,c7 may be employ$
 9 ! field at a m$ical c5t] ( !         
,dep>tm5t4  7#c7 ,a recruit] :o--  7,a7 
reports directly to ! ,deputy ,director 

( ,recruitm5t & ,ret5tion2 &  7,b7 works
 ) ! ,work=ce ,managem5t & ,consult+    
,(fice & ! ,heal?c>e ,tal5t ,managem5t  
,(fice ( ! ,vet]ans ,heal? ,adm9i/ration
 to develop & implem5t national recruit+
 /rategic plans = ! recruitm5t &        
ret5tion ( physician assi/ants )9 !     
,dep>tm5t4  7#d7 ,an adm9i/rative       
assi/ant1 comp5sat$ at a rate n less ?an
 level ,,gs-#f ( ! ,g5]al ,s*$ule1 or   
equival5t1 :o assi/s ) adm9i/rative     
duties relat+ to ! pilot program 9 !    
,(fice ( ,physician ,assi/ant ,s]vices &
 su* o!r duties z det]m9$ by ! ,secret>y
 to ensure t ! ,(fice runs effectively &
 effici5tly4  7k7 ,report  7#a7 ,9 g5]al
 ,n lat] ?an "o ye> aft] ! date ( !     
enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 ! ,secret>y (      
,vet]ans ,affairs1 9 collaboration ) !  
,secret>y ( ,labor1 ! ,secret>y (       
,def5se1 & ! ,secret>y ( ,heal? & ,human
 ,s]vices1 %all submit to ,congress a   
report on ! pilot program4  7#b7        
,elem5ts ,! report requir$ by p>agraph  
7#a7 %all include ! foll[+3 7,a7 ,!     

ext5t to :i* ! pilot program is         
effective 9 improv+ ! ability ( eligible
 individuals "u subsection 7b7 to become
 physician assi/ants4  7,b7 ,an         
exam9ation ( :e!r ! pilot program is    
a*iev+ ! goals (-- 7i7 enabl+           
individuals to build on m$ical skills   
ga9$ z memb]s ( ! ,arm$ ,=ces by ent]+  
into ! physician assi/ant work=ce ( !   
,dep>tm5t2 &  7ii7 help+ to meet !      
%ortage ( physician assi/ants employ$ by
 ! ,dep>tm5t4  7,c7 ,an id5tification ( 
su* modifications to ! pilot program z !
 ,secret>y ( ,vet]ans ,affairs1 !       
,secret>y ( ,labor1 ! ,secret>y (       
,def5se1 & ! ,secret>y ( ,heal? & ,human
 ,s]vices consid] necess>y to meet !    
goals describ$ 9 subp>agraph 7,b74  7,d7
 ,an assessm5t ( :e!r ! pilot program   
c\ld s]ve z a model = o!r programs ( !  
,dep>tm5t to assi/ individuals 9 obta9+ 
c]tification & employm5t 9 o!r heal? c>e
 fields4  7l7 ,s\rce ( am\nts ,n less   
?an #h1jjj1jjj ( ! am\nt necess>y to    
c>ry out ! pilot program %all be d]iv$ f

 am\nts appropriat$ to ! ,dep>tm5t (    
,vet]ans ,affairs be=e ! date ( !       
enactm5t ( ?is ,act4  #c4 ,e/abli%m5t ( 
/&>ds = ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs 
= us+ educational assi/ance programs to 
educate & hire physician assi/ants  7a7 
,9 g5]al ,! ,secret>y ( ,vet]ans        
,affairs %all e/abli% /&>ds describ$ 9  
subsection 7b7 to improve ! use by !    
,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs ( !       
,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs ,heal?    
,pr(essionals ,educational ,assi/ance   
,program "u *apt] #gf ( title #ch1      
,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 & o!r educational  
assi/ance programs ( ! ,dep>tm5t1       
includ+ ! pilot program "u section #b1  
to educate & hire physician assi/ants ( 
! ,dep>tm5t4  7b7 ,/&>ds ,! /&>ds       
describ$ 9 ?is subsection are ! foll[+3 
7#a7 ,hold+ directors ( m$ical c5t]s ( !
 ,dep>tm5t acc\ntable = failure to use !
 educational assi/ance programs describ$
 9 subsection 7a7 & o!r inc5tives--     
7,a7 to advance employees ( ! ,dep>tm5t 
9 _! education z physician assi/ants2 & 

7,b7 to improve recruitm5t & ret5tion ( 
physician assi/ants4  7#b7 ,ensur+ t !  
,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs ,education
 ,debt ,r$uction ,program "u sub*apt]   
,,vii ( *apt] #gf ( su* title is        
available = p>ticipants 9 ! pilot       
program "u section #b to fill vacant    
physician assi/ant positions at !       
,dep>tm5t1 includ+ by--  7,a7 includ+ 9 
all vacancy ann\ncem5ts = physician     
assi/ant positions ! availability ( !   
,education ,debt ,r$uction ,program2 &  
7,b7 in=m+ applicants to physician      
assi/ant positions ( _! eligibility = ! 
,education ,debt ,r$uction ,program4    
7#c7 ,monitor+ compliance ) !           
application process = educational       
assi/ance programs describ$ 9 subsection
 7a7 to ensure t su* programs are be+   
fully utiliz$ to c>ry out ?is section4  
7#d7 ,creat+ programs1 includ+ ?r\gh !  
use ( ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs   
,employee ,inc5tive ,s*ol>%ip ,program  
"u sub*apt] ,,vi ( *apt] #gf ( su*      
title1 to enc\rage employees ( !        

,dep>tm5t to apply to accr$it$ physician
 assi/ant programs4  7c7 ,regulations ,!
 ,secret>y %all prescribe su*           
regulations z ! ,secret>y consid]s      
appropriate to c>ry out ?is section4    
#d4 ,e/abli%m5t ( pay grades = physician
 assi/ants ( ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans     
,affairs & requirem5t to provide        
competitive pay  7a7 ,e/abli%m5t ( pay  
grades ,section #gdjd7;b7 ( title #ch1  
,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 is am5d$ by add+ at
 ! end ! foll[+3  ,,physician ,,assi/ant
 ,,s*$ule ,physician ,assi/ant ,,iv4    
,physician ,assi/ant ,,iii4 ,physician  
,assi/ant ,,ii4 ,physician ,assi/ant ,i4
  4  7b7 ,competitive pay ,section      
#gdea7;a77#b7 ( su* title is am5d$--    
7#a7 by r$esignat+ subp>agraph 7,b7 z   
subp>agraph 7,c72  7#b7 by ins]t+ aft]  
subp>agraph 7,a7 ! foll[+ new           
subp>agraph 7,b73  7,b7 ,physician      
assi/ant4  2 &  7#c7 9 subp>agraph 7,c71
 z r$esignat$ by p>agraph 7#a71 by /rik+
 & regi/]$ nurse & ins]t+ regi/]$ nurse1
 & physician assi/ant4  7c7 ,national   

/rategic plan  7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,!         
,secret>y ( ,vet]ans ,affairs %all      
implem5t a national /rategic plan = !   
ret5tion & recruitm5t ( physician       
assi/ants ( ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans      
,affairs t includes ! e/abli%m5t &      
adoption ( /&>ds = ! provision (        
competitive pay to physician assi/ants (
 ! ,dep>tm5t 9 comp>ison to ! pay (     
physician assi/ants 9 ! private sector4 
7#b7 ,report ,n lat] ?an "o ye> aft] !  
date ( ! enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 !         
,secret>y %all submit to ! ,committee on
 ,vet]ans' ,affairs ( ! ,s5ate & !      
,committee on ,vet]ans' ,affairs ( !    
,h\se ( ,repres5tatives a report on !   
implem5tation ( ! national /rategic plan
 "u p>agraph 7#a74