S. 1871 — Introduced in Senate

II 115th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 1871 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES September 27, 2017Mr. Cassidy introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 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, 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 chapter 74 of such title 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 amendments 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.