§3528 Compensation and professional standards for certain medical officers

Summary

The Agency must have an Office of Medical Services and, no later than 1 year after March 15, 2022, must pay each medical officer who meets the rules at the same pay range (for the same pay period) as a Veterans Health Administration physician in the District of Columbia region with the same medical subspecialty, as published under 38 U.S.C. 7431(e)(1)(C) in the Federal Register. To qualify, a medical officer must give direct patient care, hold a current full unrestricted medical license from a U.S. state or territory, have active board certification in an American Board of Medical Specialties clinical specialty, and do at least 96 hours of clinical work each year in an accredited clinic or hospital that is not part of the CIA. If an officer permanently moves overseas and more than 50 percent of their duties there are direct patient care, they may count up to 480 hours done before the move to cover up to 3 years of the yearly requirement. The Office head must allow excused time off so officers can keep up those clinical hours.