06/09/2018    _Jeff Merrill, DPM

_Podiatrists Now Defined as Physicians in VA (Jeffrey Robbins, DPM)

Just for clarification, I thought I understood
the new VA provider equity act as providing
podiatrists with increased pay and an ability for
leadership positions, however, it did not
"RELABEL" podiatrists as "PHYSICIANS" but as
"PODIATRIC SURGEONS". Is that correct? Would you
be able to clarify?

Jeff Merrill, DPM, Klamath Falls, OR

Response from Dr. Robbins: The bill lists us
under the definition of Physicians as below.
To be clear the orthopedic society wanted a
distinction made in the paragraph that stated
physician and surgeon (MD,DO) Podiatric Surgeon
(DPM) and Dentist and Oral Surgeon (DDS, DMD).
They are all included under the heading of
Physician.

SEC. 502. ROLE OF PODIATRISTS IN DEPARTMENT OF
VETERANS AFFAIRS.
(a) INCLUSION AS PHYSICIAN.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter I of chapter 74 is
amended by adding at the end the following new
section:
‘‘§ 7413. Treatment of podiatrists; clinical
oversight standards
‘‘(a) PODIATRISTS.—Except as provided by
subsection (b), a doctor of podiatric medicine
who is appointed as a podiatrist under
section 7401(1) of this title is eligible for any
supervisory position in the Veterans Health
Administration to the same degree that
a physician appointed under such section is
eligible for the position.
‘‘(b) ESTABLISHMENT OF CLINICAL OVERSIGHT
STANDARDS.—The Secretary, in consultation with
appropriate stakeholders, shall establish
standards to ensure that specialists appointed in
the Veterans Health Administration to supervisory
positions do not provide direct clinical
oversight for purposes of peer review or
practice evaluation for providers of other
clinical specialties.’’.
(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections at
the beginning of chapter 74 is amended by
inserting after the item relating to section 7412
the following new item:
‘‘7413. Treatment of podiatrists; clinical
oversight standards.’’.
(b) MODIFICATION AND CLARIFICATION OF PAY GRADE.—
(1) GRADE.—The list in section 7404(b) of such
title is amended—
(A) by striking ‘‘PHYSICIAN AND DENTIST
SCHEDULE’’ and inserting ‘‘PHYSICIAN AND SURGEON
(MD/DO), PODIATRIC SURGEON (DPM), AND DENTIST
AND ORAL SURGEON (DDS, DMD) SCHEDULE’’;
(B) by striking ‘‘Physician grade’’ and inserting
‘‘Physician and surgeon grade’’; and
(C) by striking ‘‘PODIATRIST, CHIROPRACTOR,
AND’’ and inserting ‘‘CHIROPRACTOR AND’’.
(2) APPLICATION.—The amendments made by paragraph
(1) shall apply with respect to a pay period of
the Department of Veterans Affairs beginning on
or after the date that is 30 days after the date
of the enactment of this Act.

Jeffrey M. Robbins, DPM,
Director Podiatry Service VACO

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