[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1058 Referred in Senate (RFS)]

<DOC>
115th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 1058


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             July 25, 2017

Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 AN ACT


 
     To amend title 38, United States Code, to clarify the role of 
   podiatrists in the Department of Veterans Affairs, 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. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``VA Provider Equity Act''.

SEC. 2. ROLE OF PODIATRISTS IN DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

    (a) Inclusion as Physician.--
            (1) In general.--Subchapter I of chapter 74 of title 38, 
        United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the 
        following new section:
``Sec. 7413. Treatment of podiatrists; clinical oversight standards
    ``(a) Podiatrists.--Except as provided by subsection (b), a doctor 
of podiatric medicine who is appointed as a podiatrist under section 
7401(1) of this title is eligible for any supervisory position in the 
Veterans Health Administration to the same degree that a physician 
appointed under such section is eligible for the position.
    ``(b) Establishment of Clinical Oversight Standards.--The 
Secretary, in consultation with appropriate stakeholders, shall 
establish standards to ensure that specialists appointed in the 
Veterans Health Administration to supervisory positions do not provide 
direct clinical oversight for purposes of peer review or practice 
evaluation for providers of other clinical specialties.''.
            (2) Clerical amendment.--The table of sections at the 
        beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the 
        item relating to section 7412 the following new item:

``7413. Treatment of podiatrists; clinical oversight standards.''.
    (b) Modification and Clarification of Pay Grade.--
            (1) Grade.--The list in section 7404(b) of such title is 
        amended--
                    (A) by striking ``PHYSICIAN AND DENTIST SCHEDULE'' 
                and inserting ``PHYSICIAN AND SURGEON (MD/DO), 
                PODIATRIC SURGEON (DPM), AND DENTIST AND ORAL SURGEON 
                (DDS, DMD) SCHEDULE'';
                    (B) by striking, ``Physician grade'' and inserting 
                ``Physician and surgeon grade''; and
                    (C) by striking ``PODIATRIST, CHIROPRACTOR, AND,'' 
                and inserting ``CHIROPRACTOR AND''.
            (2) Application.--The amendment made by paragraph (1) shall 
        apply with respect to a pay period of the Department of 
        Veterans Affairs beginning on or after the date that is 30 days 
        after the date of the enactment of this Act.

SEC. 3. EXTENSION OF REDUCTION IN AMOUNT OF PENSION FURNISHED BY 
              DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS FOR CERTAIN VETERANS 
              COVERED BY MEDICAID PLANS FOR SERVICES FURNISHED BY 
              NURSING FACILITIES.

    Section 5503(d)(7) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by 
striking ``September 30, 2024'' and inserting ``September 30, 2026''.

            Passed the House of Representatives July 24, 2017.

            Attest:

                                                 KAREN L. HAAS,

                                                                 Clerk.