104 S280 IS: Better Examiner Standards and Transparency for Veterans Act of 2023 U.S. Senate 2023-02-07 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

II118th CONGRESS1st SessionS. 280IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATESFebruary 7, 2023Mr. Rubio (for himself, Mr. Scott of Florida, Ms. Sinema, Ms. Lummis, and Mr. Braun) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' AffairsA BILLTo ensure that only licensed health care professionals furnish disability examinations under a certain Department of Veterans Affairs pilot program for use of contract physicians for disability examinations, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Better Examiner Standards and Transparency for Veterans Act of 2023 or the BEST for Vets Act of 2023.

2.

Ensuring only licensed health care professionals furnish medical disability examinations under certain Department of Veterans Affairs pilot program for use contract physicians for disability examinations

(a)

Prohibition on use of certain health care professionals

Section 504(a) of the Veterans' Benefits Improvements Act of 1996 (Public Law 104–275; 38 U.S.C. 5101 note) is amended—(1)by striking The Secretary of Veterans Affairs and inserting the following:(1)

In general

The Secretary of Veterans Affairs; and(2)by adding at the end the following new paragraph:(2)

Prohibition

No examination described in paragraph (1) may be carried out under this section by any health care professional other than one described in subsection (c)(2)..(b)

Remedies

The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall take such actions as the Secretary considers appropriate to ensure that only health care professionals described in subsection (c)(2) of section 504 of the Veterans' Benefits Improvements Act of 1996 (Public Law 104–275; 38 U.S.C. 5101 note) are conducting examinations pursuant to contracts entered into under such section.(c)

Annual report

Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act and not less frequently than once each year thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives a report on—(1)the conduct of the pilot program established under section 504 of the Veterans' Benefits Improvements Act of 1996 (Public Law 104–275; 38 U.S.C. 5101 note); and(2)the actions of the Secretary under subsection (b).(d)

Technical corrections

Section 504 of the Veterans' Benefits Improvements Act of 1996 (Public Law 104–275; 38 U.S.C. 5101 note) is amended, in the section heading, by striking physicians and inserting health care professionals.