The recently introduced VA COMPETES Act would allow for the hiring and retention of more health care professionals to shorten wait times for veterans.
On Friday, Nov. 15, Representative Josh Harder (CA-9) introduced legislation to combat the unacceptably long wait times for veterans at VA health care facilities across the country. Last spring, after the Stockton VA Clinic lost 50 percent of its primary care providers, many veterans were forced to wait more than 100 days for an appointment. Rep. Harder stepped in and urged the national VA to come up with a solution to the Stockton Clinic’s staffing shortage. Without this newly introduced bill, said Harder, these staffing shortages will continue to happen and prevent veterans from getting the care they deserve. Right now, many health care practitioners choose to work for private practices as opposed to the VA because of higher pay offers.
The VA COMPETES Act would transform the VA’s current pay structure to attract more health care professionals by making it more competitive with the private sector. Along with the increases to compensation, this bill would also increase oversight on a doctor’s performance by requiring annual evaluations and reports.
“It’s completely unacceptable that our veterans have to wait months in order to see a doctor. We have a nationwide shortage of health care practitioners and the VA has to fix this problem ASAP,” said Harder. “This bill would allow the VA to finally keep up with private sector pay so our veterans can get the best health care in the country – the health care they worked hard to earn.”
Specifically, the VA COMPETES Act:
Aims to increase VA health care provider salaries by adjusting the pay structure for physicians, optometrists, podiatrists, and dentists in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA).
Requires annual performance evaluations and pay adjustments done in a transparent process based on how health care professionals meet performance goals.
Gives the VA Secretary the power to waive pay caps when necessary to recruit or retain critical health care personnel for clinics experiencing severe, prolonged shortages like the Stockton VA Clinic.
Increases transparency and accountability by requiring annual reports to Congress detailing which clinics made pay changes, how many employees were affected, and what adjustments were made.
