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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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