[Congressional Bills 107th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 61 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







107th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 61

   Expressing the sense of the Senate that the Secretary of Veterans 
    Affairs should recognize board certifications from the American 
Association of Physician Specialists, Inc., for purposes of the payment 
         of special pay by the Veterans Health Administration.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             March 21, 2001

 Mr. Hutchinson submitted the following resolution; which was referred 
                 to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
   Expressing the sense of the Senate that the Secretary of Veterans 
    Affairs should recognize board certifications from the American 
Association of Physician Specialists, Inc., for purposes of the payment 
         of special pay by the Veterans Health Administration.

Whereas the United States has, in the course of its history, fought in many wars 
        and conflicts to defend freedom and protect the interests of the Nation;
Whereas millions of men and women have served the Nation in times of need as 
        members of the Armed Forces;
Whereas the service of veterans has been of vital importance to the Nation and 
        the sacrifices made by veterans and their families should not be 
        forgotten with the passage of time;
Whereas the obligation of the Nation to provide the best health care benefits to 
        veterans and their families takes precedence over all else;
Whereas veterans deserve comprehensive and high-quality health care services;
Whereas the Secretary of Veterans Affairs only recognizes board certifications 
        of allopathic physicians from specialty boards that are members of the 
        American Board of Medical Specialties and board certifications of 
        osteopathic physicians from specialty boards recognized by the Bureau of 
        Osteopathic Specialists;
Whereas physicians not certified by the American Board of Medical Specialties or 
        the Bureau of Osteopathic Specialists are not eligible for special pay 
        for board certification;
Whereas there are other nationally recognized organizations that certify 
        physicians for practice in areas of specialty;
Whereas the failure of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to recognize board 
        certifications from other nationally recognized organizations may limit 
        the pool of qualified physicians from which the Department of Veterans 
        Affairs can hire; and
Whereas not recognizing board certifications of other nationally recognized 
        organizations, such as the American Association of Physician 
        Specialists, Inc., may limit the ability of veterans to receive the 
        highest quality health care: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate that the Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs should, for the purposes of the payment of special pay 
by the Veterans Health Administration, recognize board certifications 
from the American Association of Physician Specialists, Inc., to the 
same extent as the Secretary of Veterans Affairs recognizes board 
certifications from the American Board of Medical Specialties and the 
Bureau of Osteopathic Specialists.
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