[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 38 (Wednesday, March 21, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Page S2674]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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   SENATE RESOLUTION 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

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

                               S. Res. 61

       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.

  Mr. HUTCHINSON. Mr. President, I rise today to offer a resolution 
concerning our nation's veterans' population and the quality of health 
care that they receive.
  As a member of this Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, the chairman 
of the Personnel Subcommittee on the Senate Armed Services Committee, 
as well as the former chairman of the Health and Hospitals Subcommittee 
on the House Veterans' Affairs Committee, I am very concerned that 
today's veterans' community receive the best possible health care 
coverage that we can provide.
  Recently, it was brought to my attention that the Department of 
Veterans Affairs only recognizes two organizations for physician 
certification credentials. However, there are other organizations that 
have pressed the VA to consider their credentials and have been met 
with a closed door.
  While it is my understanding that very recently the Department has 
rescinded this decision due to the VA General Counsel ruling it to be 
illegal, the VA still does not recognize other board certifications in 
the matter of specialty pay.
  Within the last few weeks, Congressman Joe Scarborough, my good 
friend and former colleague, has introduced legislation on behalf of 
one of these excluded organizations, the American Association of 
Physician Specialists. His resolution addresses the issue of board 
certification recognitions by the new Secretary of the VA to include 
this organization in the list of organizations that are recognized for 
certification and special pay.
  Today, I am pleased to offer the Senate counter-part to Congressman 
Scarborouogh's legislation in the hopes that this vehicle may rectify a 
policy and system that seems faulty.

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