[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 177 (Wednesday, September 12, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46258-46259]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-19847]


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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS


Annual Pay Ranges for Physicians, Dentists, and Podiatrists of 
the Veterans Health Administration (VHA)

AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Mission Act of 2018 
(VA Maintaining Systems and Strengthening Integrated Outside Networks 
Act), Section 502, provides that podiatrists be paid from the Veterans 
Health Administration (VHA) physician and dentist pay system.

DATES: Annual pay ranges are applicable November 25, 2018.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Farine Cohen, Program Analyst, Policy 
and Programs, VHA Workforce Management and Consulting Office (10A2A), 
Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue NW, Washington, DC 
20420, (202) 461-7179. This is not a toll-free number.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: As required by the ``Department of Veterans 
Affairs Health Care Personnel Enhancement Act of 2004,'' (Pub. L. 108-
445, dated December 3, 2004) VA is hereby giving notice of annual pay 
ranges for VHA podiatrists as prescribed by the Secretary for 
Department-wide applicability. The pay table placement and annual 
salary rates of podiatrists is intended to enhance the flexibility of 
the Department to recruit, develop, and retain the most highly-
qualified podiatrists to serve our Nation's Veterans and maintain a 
standard of excellence in the VA health care system. Under 38 United 
States Code (U.S.C.) 7431(e)(1)(A), not less often than once every 2 
years, the Secretary must prescribe for Department-wide applicability 
the minimum and maximum amounts of annual pay that may be paid to VHA 
physicians and dentists. Further, 38 U.S.C. 7431(e)(1)(B) allows the 
Secretary to prescribe separate minimum and maximum amounts of pay for 
a specialty or assignment. In construction of the annual pay ranges, 38 
U.S.C. 7431(c)(4)(A) requires the consultation of two or more national 
surveys of pay, whether prepared by private, public, or quasi-public 
entities, in order to make a general assessment of the range of pays 
payable to physicians and dentists. Lastly, 38 U.S.C. 7431(e)(1)(C) 
states amounts prescribed under paragraph 7431(e) shall be published in 
the Federal Register and shall not take effect until at least 60 days 
after date of publication.

[[Page 46259]]

Background

    The ``Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel 
Enhancement Act of 2004'' (Pub. L. 108-445) was signed by the President 
on December 3, 2004. The major provisions of the law established a new 
pay system for VHA physicians and dentists consisting of base pay, 
market pay, and performance pay. While the base pay component is set by 
statute, market pay is intended to reflect the recruitment and 
retention needs for the specialty or assignment of a particular 
physician or dentist at a facility. Further, performance pay is 
intended to recognize the achievement of specific goals and performance 
objectives prescribed annually. These three components create a system 
of pay that is driven by both market indicators and employee 
performance, while recognizing employee tenure in VHA.

Discussion

    VA identified and utilized salary survey data sources which most 
closely represent VA comparability in the areas of practice setting, 
employment environment, and hospital/health care system. Sullivan 
Cotter and Associates, Medical Group Management Association, and Korn 
Ferry Hay Group Healthcare Compensation were collectively utilized as 
benchmarks from which to prescribe annual pay ranges for podiatrists 
across the scope of assignments/specialties within the Department. 
While aggregating the data, a preponderance of weight was given to 
those surveys which most directly resembled the environment of the 
Department.
    In developing pay table placement and annual salary rates of 
podiatrists, a few distinctive principles were factored into the 
compensation analysis of the data. The first principle is to ensure 
that both the minimum and maximum salary is at a level that 
accommodates special employment situations, from fellowships and 
medical research career development awards to Nobel Laureates, high-
cost areas, and internationally-renowned clinicians. The second 
principle is to provide ranges large enough to accommodate career 
progression, geographic differences, sub-specialization, and other 
special factors.
    Several VA data sources were reviewed against available, relevant 
private sector data. The podiatry specialties are grouped into one 
clinical pay range that reflect comparable complexity in salary, 
recruitment, and retention considerations.

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                    Tier level                       Minimum    Maximum
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                     Pay Table 1--Clinical Specialty
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TIER 1............................................   $100,967   $225,000
TIER 2............................................    110,000    234,000
TIER 3............................................    120,000    262,000
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                Pay Table 1--Covered Clinical Specialties
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Endocrinology.
Endodontics.
General Practice--Dentistry.
Geriatrics.
Infectious Diseases.
Internal Medicine/Primary Care/Family Practice.
Palliative Care.
Periodontics.
Podiatry (General).
Podiatry (Surgery--Forefoot, Rearfoot/Ankle, Advanced Rearfoot/Ankle).
Preventive Medicine.
Prosthodontics.
Rheumatology.
All other specialties or assignments not requiring a specific specialty
 training or certification.
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Signing Authority

    The Secretary of Veterans Affairs approved this document and 
authorized the undersigned to sign and submit the document to the 
Office of the Federal Register for publication electronically as an 
official document of the Department of Veterans Affairs. Robert L. 
Wilkie, Secretary, Department of Veterans Affairs, approved this 
document on September 7, 2018 for publication.

    Dated: September 7, 2018.
Luvenia Potts,
Program Specialist, Office of Regulation Policy & Management, Office of 
the Secretary, Department of Veterans Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2018-19847 Filed 9-11-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 8320-01-P