Sec. 2002. Matters relating to Department of Veterans Affairs medical disability examinations
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Subsection
(c)of section 504 of the Veterans’ Benefits Improvements Act of 1996 ( Public Law 104–275 ; 38 U.S.C. 5101 note) is amended to read as follows: Notwithstanding any law regarding the licensure of health care professionals, a health care professional described in paragraph
(2)may conduct an examination pursuant to a contract entered into under subsection
(a)at any location in any State, the District of Columbia, or a Commonwealth, territory, or possession of the United States, so long as the examination is within the scope of the authorized duties under such contract. A health care professional described in this paragraph is a physician, physician assistant, nurse practitioner, audiologist, or psychologist, who— has a current unrestricted license to practice the health care profession of the physician, physician assistant, nurse practitioner, audiologist, or psychologist, as the case may be; is not barred from practicing such health care profession in any State, the District of Columbia, or a Commonwealth, territory, or possession of the United States; and is performing authorized duties for the Department of Veterans Affairs pursuant to a contract entered into under subsection (a). . The purpose of the amendment made by paragraph
(1)is to expand the license portability for physicians assistants, nurse practitioners, audiologists, and psychologists to supplement the capacity of employees of the Department to provide medical examinations described in subsection (b). The amendment made by paragraph
(1)shall not be construed to affect the license portability for physicians in effect under section 504(c) of such Act as in effect on the day before the date of the enactment of this Act. On the date that is three years after the date of the enactment of this Act, subsection
(c)of such section shall read as it read on the day before the date of the enactment of this Act. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall temporarily suspend the efforts of the Secretary in effect on the day before the date of the enactment of this Act to eliminate medical examiner positions in the Department of Veterans Affairs until the number of individuals awaiting a medical examination with respect to medical disability of the individuals for benefits under laws administered by the Secretary that are carried out through the Under Secretary for Benefits is equal to or less than the number of such individuals who were awaiting such a medical examination with respect to such purposes on March 1, 2020. Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report on the provision of medical examinations described in subsection
(b)by the Department. The report submitted under paragraph
(1)shall cover the following: How the Secretary will increase the capacity, efficiency, and timeliness of physician assistants, nurse practitioners, audiologists, and psychologists of the Veterans Health Administration with respect to completing medical examinations described in subsection (b). The total number of full-time equivalent employees among all physician assistants, nurse practitioners, audiologists, and psychologists needed for the increases described in subparagraph (A). An assessment regarding the importance of retaining a critical knowledge base within the Department for performing medical examinations for veterans filing claims for compensation under chapters 11 and 13 of title 38, United States Code, including with respect to military sexual trauma, post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury, and toxic exposure. The Secretary shall collaborate with the veterans community and stakeholders in the preparation of the report required by paragraph (1). In this subsection, the term appropriate committees of Congress means— the Committee on Veterans' Affairs and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate; and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives. Not later than 360 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall commence a review of the implementation of the pilot program authorized under subsection
(a)of section 504 of the Veterans’ Benefits Improvements Act of 1996 ( Public Law 104–275 ; 38 U.S.C. 5101 note). The review conducted under paragraph
(1)shall include the following: An assessment of the use of subsection
(c)of section 504 of such Act, as amended by subsection (a)(1) of this section. Efforts to retain and recruit medical examiners as employees of the Department. Use of telehealth for medical examinations described in subsection
(b)that are administered by the Department. Not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall provide to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives a briefing on how the Secretary will implement the recommendations of the Comptroller General of the United States regarding— the monitoring of the training of providers of examinations pursuant to contracts under section 504 of the Veterans’ Benefits Improvements Act of 1996 ( Public Law 104–275 ; 38 U.S.C. 5101 note); and ensuring such providers receive such training. The Secretary shall take such actions as may be necessary to hold accountable the providers of medical examinations pursuant to contracts under section 504 of the Veterans’ Benefits Improvements Act of 1996 ( Public Law 104–275 ; 38 U.S.C. 5101 note) who are underperforming in the meeting of the needs of veterans through the performance of medical examinations pursuant to such contracts.
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Sec. 2002
Matters relating to Department of Veterans Affairs medical disability examinations
Pub. L.Pub. L. 104-275
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