An Act To amend title 38, United States Code, to clarify the grade and pay of podiatrists of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Apr. 8, 2019

[S. 863]

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. CLARIFICATION OF GRADE AND PAY OF PODIATRISTS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.(a) Grade.—The list in section 7404(b) of title 38, United States Code, is amended—(1) by striking “PODIATRIC SURGEON (DPM)” and inserting “PODIATRIST”; and (2) by inserting after the item relating to “Physician and surgeon grade.” the following new item:

“Podiatrist grade.”

. (b) Pay.—(1) In general.—Section 7431 of such title is amended—(A) by striking “physician and dentist” each place it appears and inserting “physician, podiatrist, and dentist”; (B) by striking “physicians and dentists” each place it appears and inserting “physicians, podiatrists, and dentists”; (C) by striking “physician or dentist” each place it appears and inserting “physician, podiatrist, or dentist”; (D) by striking “physicians or dentists” each place it appears and inserting “physicians, podiatrists, or dentists”; (E) by striking “Physician and Dentist” each place it appears and inserting “Physician, Podiatrist, and Dentist”; and (F) in subsection (e)(1)(A), by inserting “podiatrists and” before “dentists.”. (2) Administrative matters.—Section 7433 of such title is amended by striking “physicians and dentists” each place it appears and inserting “physicians, podiatrists, and dentists”. (3) Conforming amendment.—The heading of subchapter III of chapter 74 of such title

38 USC 7431 prec.

is amended by inserting “, PODIATRISTS,” after “PHYSICIANS”. (4) Clerical amendment.—The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 74 of such title

38 USC 7401 prec.

is amended by striking the item relating to subchapter III and inserting the following new item: “subchapter iii— pay for physicians, podiatrists, and dentists”. (5) Technical amendment.—Section 7433 of such title is further amended—133 STAT. 846(A) by striking subsection (b); (B) in subsection (a)—(i) by striking “(1) The Secretary” and inserting “The Secretary”; and (ii) by redesignating paragraph (2) as subsection (b); and (C) in subsection (b), as so redesignated—(i) by striking “In prescribing” and inserting “Recommendations and Views.—In prescribing”; and (ii) by striking “this paragraph” and inserting “this subsection”.

Approved April 8, 2019.