H.R. 5938 would expand the Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) authority to contract with health care providers for medical examinations of veterans in any location in the United States, regardless of whether the providers are licensed to practice in that jurisdiction. Under current law, the department contracts with health care providers to perform medical examinations to determine whether veterans are eligible for disability compensation and pension benefits from VA. Health care providers who have valid licenses to practice as physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, audiologists, or psychologists may conduct those examinations under VA contracts in any U.S. jurisdiction regardless of whether they are licensed to practice there. The bill would permit health care providers of any profession deemed necessary by VA to conduct disability examinations in any jurisdiction if the exam is performed under a contract with VA. Expanding the list of eligible health care providers who may provide disability examinations in a jurisdiction could change which providers perform exams but would not affect the number of veterans eligible to receive VA benefits. As a result, CBO estimates that enacting the provision would not affect direct spending for disability compensation benefits.
