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Bill

S 3771

Department of Veterans Affairs Therapeutic Medical Physicist Pay Cap Relief Act of 2026

119th Congress Introduced by Jim Banks and 2 co-sponsors

The bill creates formal VA pay scales and appointment standards for Therapeutic Medical Physicists, adding them as recognized health professionals with defined qualifications and c

Introduced in Senate
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · S 3771

Summary of S. 3771 (119th Congress) – Department of Veterans Affairs Therapeutic Medical Physicist Pay Cap Relief Act of 2026

Purpose

  • To codify requirements for appointment, qualifications, and pay for therapeutic medical physicists (TMPs) within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), alongside diagnostic medical physicists, and to address pay and administrative framework for these positions.

What the bill does (Key Provisions)

1) Appointment and Qualifications

  • Adds TMPs to the VA appointment framework alongside the existing categories (e.g., physicians, podiatrists, diagnostic medical physicists).
  • Establishes clear eligibility criteria for TMPs:
    • (a) Completion of a post-graduate clinical training program in therapeutic medical physics satisfactory to the VA Secretary.
    • (b) Board certification in therapeutic medical physics by a board approved by the Secretary.
  • Also retains the existing standard for Diagnostic Medical Physicists:
    • Completion of a post-graduate clinical training program in diagnostic medical physics.
    • Board certification in diagnostic medical physics by a board approved by the Secretary.

2) Grading and Titles

  • Adds new job grades for TMPs and Diagnostic Medical Physicists within the VA pay scale.
  • Specifically inserts “Therapeutic Medical Physist” and “Diagnostic Medical Physicist” grades adjacent to related medical professional grades (e.g., podiatrist, optometrist, dentist).

3) Pay and Pay Substructure

  • Expands and adjusts pay-related subsections to include TMPs and Diagnostic Medical Physicists in the VA pay system.
  • References adjustments to the broader physician/podiatrist/dentist pay framework to accommodate the new roles.

4) Administrative and Clerical Alignment

  • Replaces or updates subchapter headings to reflect inclusion of TMPs and Diagnostic Medical Physicists among health-professional pay categories.
  • Ensures administrative provisions account for the newly added categories in section references and the table of sections.

5) Reporting Requirement

  • Requires the VA Secretary to report to the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs and the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs within one year of enactment.
  • The report must assess:
    • (A) Effects of pay increases for full-time TMPs and Diagnostic Medical Physicists within the VA.
    • (B) Effects on TMPs and Diagnostic Medical Physicists who provide care under agreements with the Secretary.
    • (C) Any changes in costs to the VA resulting from these pay adjustments.

Affected Parties

  • Primary: Department of Veterans Affairs personnel who are therapeutic medical physicists and diagnostic medical physicists.
  • Secondary: VA patients receiving care through programs utilizing TMPs/Diagnostic Medical Physicists; VA administrators responsible for staffing and budgeting.
  • Legislative: Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs and House Committee on Veterans' Affairs (for the required report).

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Introduction and referral:
    • Introduced February 4, 2026 by Senator Kaine, with Senators Boozman and Banks as co-sponsors.
    • Referred to the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.
  • Reporting timeline:
    • Requires a comprehensive report no later than one year after enactment, detailing pay impacts, care delivery implications, and cost effects.

Potential Impacts

  • Clarifies career path and compensation for TMPs, potentially improving staffing and retention of highly specialized medical physics professionals within VA health care.
  • Aligns TMPs and Diagnostic Medical Physicists with other clinically focused pay structures, addressing “pay cap relief” needs implied by the act’s title.
  • Provides an evidence-based assessment to evaluate the financial and care-delivery effects of the pay changes.
  • May influence how VA partners with external care agreements by clarifying compensation structures for TMPs operating under such agreements.

If you’d like, I can provide a side-by-side comparison with current law to highlight the exact statutory changes.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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