Section 704 of the Veterans Benefits Act of 2003
Public Law 108–183, as amended
Section 704 of the Veterans Benefits Act of 2003
183
115–91
Statute Compilation
United States House of Representatives
Office of the Legislative Counsel
text/xml
EN
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GPO Statute Compilations USLM converter, version 20210527.1
2021-10-15
Veterans Benefits Act of 2003
10989
108
2003-12-16
Section 704 of the Veterans Benefits Act of 2003
[(Public Law 108–183)]
[As Amended Through P.L. 115–91, Enacted December 12, 2017]
[Currency: This publication is a compilation of the text of Public Law 108–183. It was last amended by the public law listed in the As Amended Through note above and below at the bottom of each page of the pdf version and reflects current law through the date of the enactment of the public law listed at https://www.govinfo.gov/app/collection/comps/]
[Note: While this publication does not represent an official version of any Federal statute, substantial efforts have been made to ensure the accuracy of its contents. The official version of Federal law is found in the United States Statutes at Large and in the United States Code. The legal effect to be given to the Statutes at Large and the United States Code is established by statute (1 U.S.C. 112, 204).]
AN ACTTo amend title 38, United States Code, to improve benefits under laws administered by the Secretary 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,
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<num style="-uslm-dtd:enum" value="VII">TITLE VII—</num><heading style="-uslm-dtd:header">OTHER MATTERS </heading>
<elided style="-uslm-dtd:omitted-text">* * * * * * *</elided>
<section style="-uslm-dtd:section" identifier="/us/sComp/108/183/tVII/s704" styleType="OLC">
<num style="-uslm-dtd:enum" value="704">SEC. 704. </num><editorialNote style="-uslm-dtd:usc-reference" role="uscRef"><b>[</b><ref href="/us/usc/t38/s5101">38 U.S.C. 5101 note</ref><b>]</b> </editorialNote><heading style="-uslm-dtd:header">TEMPORARY AUTHORITY FOR PERFORMANCE OF MEDICAL DISABILITIES EXAMINATIONS BY CONTRACT PHYSICIANS. </heading>
<subsection style="-uslm-dtd:subsection" identifier="/us/sComp/108/183/tVII/s704/a" styleType="OLC">
<num style="-uslm-dtd:enum" value="a">(a) </num><heading style="-uslm-dtd:header">Authority.—</heading><content style="-uslm-dtd:text">Using appropriated funds, other than funds available for compensation and pension, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs may provide for the conduct of examinations with respect to the medical disabilities of applicants for benefits under laws administered by the Secretary by persons other than Department of Veterans Affairs employees. The authority under this section is in addition to the authority provided in section 504(b) of the Veterans’ Benefits Improvement Act of 1996 (Public Law 104-275; 38 U.S.C. 5101 note).</content>
</subsection>
<subsection style="-uslm-dtd:subsection" identifier="/us/sComp/108/183/tVII/s704/b" styleType="OLC">
<num style="-uslm-dtd:enum" value="b">(b) </num><heading style="-uslm-dtd:header">Performance by Contract.—</heading><content style="-uslm-dtd:text">Examinations under the authority provided in subsection (a) shall be conducted pursuant to contracts entered into and administered by the Under Secretary for Benefits.</content>
</subsection>
<subsection style="-uslm-dtd:subsection" identifier="/us/sComp/108/183/tVII/s704/c" styleType="OLC">
<num style="-uslm-dtd:enum" value="c">(c) </num><heading style="-uslm-dtd:header">Expiration.—</heading><content style="-uslm-dtd:text">The authority in subsection (a) shall expire on December 31, 2018. No examination may be carried out under the authority provided in that subsection after that date.</content>
</subsection>
<subsection style="-uslm-dtd:subsection" identifier="/us/sComp/108/183/tVII/s704/d" styleType="OLC">
<num style="-uslm-dtd:enum" value="d">(d) </num><heading style="-uslm-dtd:header">Licensure of Contract Physicians.—</heading>
<paragraph style="-uslm-dtd:paragraph" identifier="/us/sComp/108/183/tVII/s704/d/1" styleType="OLC">
<num style="-uslm-dtd:enum" value="1">(1) </num><heading style="-uslm-dtd:header">In general.—</heading><content style="-uslm-dtd:text">Notwithstanding any law regarding the licensure of physicians, a physician described in paragraph (2) may conduct an examination pursuant to a contract entered into under subsection (b) at any location in any State, the District of Columbia, or a Commonwealth, territory, or possession of the United States, so long as the examination is within the scope of the authorized duties under such contract.</content>
</paragraph>
<paragraph style="-uslm-dtd:paragraph" identifier="/us/sComp/108/183/tVII/s704/d/2" styleType="OLC">
<num style="-uslm-dtd:enum" value="2">(2) </num><heading style="-uslm-dtd:header">Physician described.—</heading><chapeau style="-uslm-dtd:text">A physician described in this paragraph is a physician who—</chapeau>
<subparagraph style="-uslm-dtd:subparagraph" identifier="/us/sComp/108/183/tVII/s704/d/2/A" styleType="OLC">
<num style="-uslm-dtd:enum" value="A">(A) </num><content style="-uslm-dtd:text">has a current unrestricted license to practice the health care profession of the physician;</content>
</subparagraph>
<subparagraph style="-uslm-dtd:subparagraph" identifier="/us/sComp/108/183/tVII/s704/d/2/B" styleType="OLC">
<num style="-uslm-dtd:enum" value="B">(B) </num><content style="-uslm-dtd:text">is not barred from practicing such health care profession in any State, the District of Columbia, or a Commonwealth, territory, or possession of the United States; and</content>
</subparagraph>
<subparagraph style="-uslm-dtd:subparagraph" identifier="/us/sComp/108/183/tVII/s704/d/2/C" styleType="OLC">
<num style="-uslm-dtd:enum" value="C">(C) </num><content style="-uslm-dtd:text">is performing authorized duties for the Department of Veterans Affairs pursuant to a contract entered into under subsection (b).</content>
</subparagraph>
</paragraph>
</subsection>
<subsection style="-uslm-dtd:subsection" identifier="/us/sComp/108/183/tVII/s704/e" styleType="OLC">
<num style="-uslm-dtd:enum" value="e">(e) </num><heading style="-uslm-dtd:header">Report.—</heading><content style="-uslm-dtd:text">Not later than four years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the use of the authority provided in subsection (a). The Secretary shall include in the report an assessment of the effect of examinations under that authority on the cost, timeliness, and thoroughness of examinations with respect to the medical disabilities of applicants for benefits under laws administered by the Secretary.</content>
</subsection>
</section>
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