Public Law 117-96 passed March 14, 2022
Role of Doctors of Podiatric Medicine in Department of Veterans Affairs.
Clarification of role- Sec 7306, title 38, United States Code, subsection a, paragraph 6:
striking “a Director of Podiatric Service”.
“ A Director of Pharmacy Service, a Director of Dietetic Service, a Director of Podiatric Service, and a Director of Optometric Service, who shall be responsible to the Under Secretary for Health for the operation of their respective Services.”
by redesignating paragraph (10) as paragraph (11),inserting:
(10) The Chief Officer of Women's Health. (11) Such other personnel as may be authorized by this chapter.
Calrification of role- Sec 7306, title 38, United States Code, subsection a, paragraph (9):
(9) The Director of Physician Assistant Services, who shall-
(A) serve in a full-time capacity at the Central Office of the Department;
(B) be a qualified physician assistant; and
(C) be responsible and report directly to the Chief Patient Care Services Officer of the Veterans Health Administration on all matters relating to the education and training, employment, appropriate use, and optimal participation of physician assistants within the programs and initiatives of the Administration.
inserting “A Podiatric Medical Director, who shall be a qualified doctor of Podiatric medicine and who shall be responsible to the Under Secretary for Health for the operation of the Podiatric Service” after paragraph (9).
Subsection (b)(1) insert “podiatric medicine”, after “doctors of medicine”.
“(b)Of the Assistant Under Secretaries for Health appointed under subsection (a)(3)-
(1) not more than two may be persons qualified in the administration of health services who are not (podiatric medicine) doctors of medicine, dental surgery, or dental medicines;”
Subsection (c) striking “and (8)”, inserting “(8), and (10)”.
“(c) Appointments under subsection (a) shall be made by the Secretary. In the case of appointments under paragraphs (1), (2), (3), (4), and (8) ((8) and (10)) of that subsection, such appointments shall be made upon the recommendation of the Under Secretary for Health.”
Clarification of Pay Grade- Section 7404, Title 38, United States Code:
amended subsection (a)(2) insert “podiatrists”, after “physicians”
“(2) The pay of physicians (podiatrists) and dentists serving in positions to which an Executive order applies under paragraph”
subsection (b) strike “PODIATRIST” and insert “PODIATRIST (DPM)”.
“physician and surgeon (md/do), podiatrist, (PODIATRIST (DPM))and dentist and oral surgeon (dds, dmd) schedule”