H.R. 5938 — Introduced in House

I 118th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 5938 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES October 12, 2023Mr. Ciscomani (for himself and Mrs. Cherfilus-McCormick) introduced the following bill October 25, 2023Referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs A BILL To amend the Veterans’ Benefits Improvements Act of 1996 and the Johnny Isakson and David P. Roe, M.D. Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2020 to improve the temporary licensure requirements for contract health care professionals who perform medical disability examinations for the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Veterans Exam Expansion Act of 2023. 2. Improvements to temporary licensure requirements for contract health care professionals who perform medical disability examinations for the Department of Veterans Affairs (a) Expansion (1) In general Section 504(c)(2) of the Veterans’ Benefits Improvements Act of 1996 (Public Law 104–275; 38 U.S.C. 5101 note), as amended by paragraph (1) of subsection (a) of section 2002 of the Johnny Isakson and David P. Roe, M.D. Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2020 (Public Law 116–315; 38 U.S.C. 5101 note), is further amended, subject to the sunset in paragraph (4) of such subsection, by striking or psychologist both places it appears and inserting psychologist, podiatrist, dentist, or optometrist. (2) Conforming amendment Paragraph (2) of such subsection is amended by striking and psychologists and inserting psychologists, podiatrists, dentists, and optometrists. (b) Extension Section 2002(a)(4) of the Johnny Isakson and David P. Roe, M.D. Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2020 (Public Law 116–315; 38 U.S.C. 5101 note) is amended by striking three years and inserting five years. (c) Report Not later than 15 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives a report regarding the use of the authority under section 504 of the Veterans’ Benefits Improvements Act of 1996 (Public Law 104–275; 38 U.S.C. 5101 note), as temporarily amended by section 2002(a)(1) of the Johnny Isakson and David P. Roe, M.D. Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2020 (Public Law 116–315; 38 U.S.C. 5101 note) and by subsection (a). Such report shall include, with respect to the one-year period after the date of the enactment of this Act, the following elements: (1) The number of examinations conducted pursuant to a contract under such authority. (2) The number of such examinations conducted in each State, the District of Columbia, or a Commonwealth, territory, or possession of the United States. (3) The numbers of each kind of health care professionals who conducted such examinations. (4) The number of examinations that were erroneously conducted by a health care professional— (A) without such a contract; or (B) unauthorized to enter into such a contract. (5) The plan of the Secretary to correct errors in the use of such authority.