[Congressional Bills 114th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2049 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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114th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 2049

To establish in the Department of Veterans Affairs a continuing medical 
 education program for non-Department medical professionals who treat 
   veterans and family members of veterans to increase knowledge and 
recognition of medical conditions common to veterans and family members 
                  of veterans, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           September 17, 2015

   Mr. Brown introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
             referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To establish in the Department of Veterans Affairs a continuing medical 
 education program for non-Department medical professionals who treat 
   veterans and family members of veterans to increase knowledge and 
recognition of medical conditions common to veterans and family members 
                  of veterans, and for other purposes.

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

SECTION 1. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS CONTINUING EDUCATION PROGRAM 
              FOR CERTAIN NON-DEPARTMENT MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS.

    (a) Establishment of Continuing Medical Education Program.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
        establish a continuing medical education program for non-
        Department medical professionals with the goal of--
                    (A) increasing knowledge and recognition of medical 
                conditions common to veterans and family members of 
                veterans; and
                    (B) improving outreach to veterans and family 
                members of veterans.
            (2) Education provided.--The program shall include 
        education on the following:
                    (A) Dealing with patients who are veterans or 
                family members of veterans.
                    (B) Identifying and treating common mental and 
                physical conditions of veterans and family members of 
                veterans.
                    (C) Programs and benefits available to veterans and 
                family members of veterans through the following 
                organizations:
                            (i) The Department of Veterans Affairs.
                            (ii) The Department of Labor.
                            (iii) Such other Federal agencies and non-
                        Federal organizations as the Secretary 
                        considers appropriate.
                    (D) The health care system of the Department of 
                Veterans Affairs.
                    (E) Such other matters as the Secretary considers 
                appropriate.
    (b) Duration of Program.--The program shall be carried out during 
the five-year period beginning on the date of the enactment of this 
Act.
    (c) Administration of Program.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary shall carry out the program 
        on an Internet website of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
            (2) Curriculum and credit provided.--The Secretary shall 
        determine the curriculum of the program and the number of hours 
        of credit to provide to participating non-Department medical 
        professionals for continuing medical education.
            (3) Accreditation.--The Secretary shall ensure that the 
        program is accredited in as many States as practicable.
            (4) Consistency with existing rules.--The Secretary shall 
        ensure that the program is consistent with the rules and 
        regulations of the following:
                    (A) The medical licensing agency of each State in 
                which the program is accredited.
                    (B) Such medical credentialing organizations as the 
                Secretary considers appropriate.
            (5) User cost.--The Secretary shall carry out the program 
        at no cost to participating non-Department medical 
        professionals.
    (d) Non-Department Medical Professional Defined.--
            (1) In general.--In this section, the term ``non-Department 
        medical professional'' means any individual specified in 
        paragraph (2) who is licensed by an appropriate medical 
        authority in the United States and in good standing, is not an 
        employee of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and provides 
        care to veterans or family members of veterans under the laws 
        administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
            (2) Individual specified.--An individual specified in this 
        paragraph is any of the following individuals:
                    (A) A doctor.
                    (B) A nurse.
                    (C) A physician assistant.
                    (D) A psychologist.
                    (E) A psychiatrist.
                    (F) Such other individuals as the Secretary 
                considers appropriate.
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