By August 15, 2021, H.R. 2787 would require the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to establish a one-year pilot program to allow undergraduate students to observe health professionals at the department. Under this program, VA would hold 15 observation sessions spread across five medical facilities. Each session would last several months and, to the extent practicable, run concurrently with a normal academic term. On the basis of information from VA, CBO expects that the department would need the following staff to operate the pilot program:
A nurse program manager (at an average compensation of $132,000);
An education program specialist (at an average compensation of $111,000);
A staff assistant to manage the pilot program (at an average compensation of $78,000); and,
Five site coordinators to oversee the program at each location (at an average compensation of $94,000).
CBO expects that VA would need support staff prior to the onset of the program to select participants and at the end of the program to prepare a report for the Congress. On that basis, CBO estimates that this bill would cost of $2 million over the 2019-2023 period; any spending would be subject to the availability of appropriated funds.
Enacting H.R. 2787 would not affect direct spending or revenues; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply.
CBO estimates that enacting H.R. 2787 would not increase net direct spending or on-budget deficits in any of the four consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2029.
