President Biden signs bill to add VA optometrists to physician pay scale
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On Jan. 2 President Joe Biden signed into law a reform bill that would add optometrists practicing in the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs to the physician pay scale, according to the American Optometric Association.
The Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act would also allow the VA to provide pay awards, bonuses and annual evaluations, the AOA announced.
Healio previously reported that the legislation was passed by the Senate on Dec. 12 and the House on Dec. 16.
“Including the over 1,000 optometrists within the physician pay administration system with passage of the Elizabeth Dole Act will support VA’s efforts to hire the most qualified providers faster,” Jeanette Carbone Varanelli, OD, said in the AOA’s announcement.
Varanelli was chief of optometry at John D. Dingell VA Medical Center for 13 years before joining the Veterans Integrated Service Network 10 Clinical Resource Hub.
“Raising the entry-level salary and earning potential as a career VA optometrist provides the opportunity to offer a more competitive compensation package to retain providers that understand how to support and care for the unique needs of our nation’s veterans,” Varanelli said.
Reference:
- S.141 — 118th Congress (2023-2024). https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/senate-bill/141/text/es. Published Dec. 23, 2024. Accessed Jan. 7, 2025.
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