Sponsors (3)
The bill aims to improve veteran access to qualified medical physicists and raise pay/ parity for VA medical physicists, at the cost of higher VA personnel spending and potential short-term hiring or contract disruptions, while providing data to let Congress reassess outcomes.
Veterans and patients with chronic conditions: improved access to qualified medical physics services (radiation therapy and diagnostic imaging) because the VA can better recruit and retain certified medical physicists through upgraded staffing treatment.
VA medical physicists and other clinical federal employees: eligibility for grade/pay treatment similar to other clinical occupations, likely increasing pay, career parity, and retention at the VA.
Congress and taxpayers: VA will collect data on costs and workforce effects within a year, enabling evidence-based evaluation and possible policy adjustments.
Taxpayers and veterans: higher pay and grade treatment for VA medical physicists will increase Department personnel costs and could require reallocations of funds or additional appropriations.
Veterans and VA healthcare staff: new certification and training requirements could delay hiring if candidates lack required board approval or program recognition, temporarily reducing staffing and access to physics services.
Veterans and healthcare providers: pay increases limited to VA-employed physicists (but not those under existing agreements) may prompt contractors to demand higher rates or shift staffing, disrupting care agreements and service continuity.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Adds therapeutic and diagnostic medical physicists to VA pay/grade statutes and requires a one‑year report on pay effects and Department costs.
Official title: Amend title 38, United States Code, to codify the requirements for appointment, qualifications, and pay for the therapeutic medical physicists of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.
Introduced February 4, 2026 by Timothy Michael Kaine · Last progress February 4, 2026
Adds therapeutic and diagnostic medical physicists to the list of recognized VA health occupations so they are covered by VA grade, pay, and personnel rules similar to other health professions, and requires the VA Secretary to report within one year on the effects of increased pay on these physicists and Department costs. The change creates qualification criteria (post‑graduate clinical training and board certification by an approved body) and makes conforming edits across Title 38 to treat these physicists for pay and administration like other VA health occupations.