[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 138 (Tuesday, December 7, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Page S11886]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS HEALTH CARE PERSONNEL ENHANCEMENT ACT OF 
                                  2004

  Mr. GRAHAM of Florida. Mr. President, I rise today to applaud the 
passage of S. 2484, which reflects a compromise agreement on a new 
system for compensating physicians and dentists in the Department of 
Veterans Affairs, VA, health care system, as well as alternative work 
schedules for VA nurses. VA doctors and dentists have not gotten a pay 
adjustment in over a decade. All of these measures are aimed at 
improving VA's ability to recruit and retain quality health care 
professionals. I would like to highlight some of the key aspects of 
this legislation.
  The compromise agreement would set forth a three-tiered system for 
paying VA physicians and dentists. The three tiers consist of base, 
market, and performance pay. The base pay element is similar to that 
employed by other Federal agencies, also known as the General Schedule, 
GS, system. As such, increases would be guaranteed for every 2 years a 
physician or dentist remains employed by VA.
  The second component of the new pay system is market pay. This 
element would be implemented by the Secretary in the form of pay bands 
that will be determined by surveys of regional salaries in the academic 
and private sectors. Also relevant to the market pay determinations are 
factors such as the scarcity, or abundance, of certain specialty 
physicians, type and years of experience, and board certifications. 
Finally, the Secretary would consult with professional review panels 
composed of other physicians or dentists.
  The final component is performance pay. Performance pay would be 
awarded to doctors and dentists if they meet certain goals and measures 
set forth by the Secretary. Currently, VA has extensive performance 
measures that it utilizes to motivate its health care providers and 
ensure quality of care. This element has a maximum of $15,000 or 7.5 
percent of the sum of the base and market pay.
  One other major section of this agreement would establish alternative 
work schedules for VA nurses. It is widely known that the entire 
country is suffering from a nursing shortage. VA anticipates that it 
will be hit especially hard by the retirement of a significant portion 
of its nursing workforce over the next 10 years. S. 2484 would allow VA 
to employ different types of working schedules in order to attract more 
nurses to the system.
  I am proud to have worked on this valuable piece of legislation for 
our Nation's veterans, and I thank my colleagues in both Chambers of 
Congress for their support.

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