81 FR 60411 - Annual Pay Ranges for Physicians and Dentists of the Veterans Health Administration (VHA)
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 170 (September 1, 2016)
Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 170 (September 1, 2016)
| Page Range | 60411-60413 | |
| FR Document | 2016-20910 |
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 170 (Thursday, September 1, 2016)] [Notices] [Pages 60411-60413] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2016-20910] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS Annual Pay Ranges for Physicians and Dentists of the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs. ACTION: Notice. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: As required by the ``Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel Enhancement Act of 2004'' (Pub. L. 108-445, dated December 3, 2004) the Department of [[Page 60412]] Veterans Affairs (VA) is hereby giving notice of annual pay ranges for Veterans Health Administration (VHA) physicians and dentists as prescribed by the Secretary for Department-wide applicability. These annual pay ranges are intended to enhance the flexibility of the Department to recruit, develop, and retain the most highly qualified providers to serve our Nation's Veterans and maintain a standard of excellence in the VA health care system. DATES: Effective Dates: Annual pay ranges are effective November 13, 2016. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Debra Doty, HR Specialist/Title 38 Program Manager, Compensation and Classification Service (055), Office of Human Resources Management, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20420, (757) 291-6514. (This is not a toll-free number.) SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under 38 U.S.C. 7431(e)(1)(A), not less often than once every two years, the Secretary must prescribe for Department-wide applicability the minimum and maximum amounts of annual pay that may be paid to VHA physicians and dentists. Further, 38 U.S.C. 7431(e)(1)(B) allows the Secretary to prescribe separate minimum and maximum amounts of pay for a specialty or assignment. In construction of the annual pay ranges, 38 U.S.C. 7431(c)(4)(A) requires the consultation of two or more national surveys of pay for physicians and dentists, as applicable, whether prepared by private, public, or quasi- public entities in order to make a general assessment of the range of pays payable to physicians and dentists. Lastly, 38 U.S.C. 7431(e)(1)(C) states amounts prescribed under paragraph 7431(e) shall be published in the Federal Register, and shall not take effect until at least 60 days after date of publication. Background The ``Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel Enhancement Act of 2004'' (Pub. L. 108-445) was signed by the President on December 3, 2004. The major provisions of the law established a new pay system for Veterans Health Administration (VHA) physicians and dentists consisting of base pay, market pay, and performance pay. While the base pay component is set by statute, market pay is intended to reflect the recruitment and retention needs for the specialty or assignment of a particular physician or dentist at a facility. Further, performance pay is intended to recognize the achievement of specific goals and performance objectives prescribed annually. These three components create a system of pay that is driven by both market indicators and employee performance, while recognizing employee tenure in VHA. Discussion VA identified and utilized salary survey data sources which most closely represent VA comparability in the areas of practice setting, employment environment, and hospital/health care system. The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), Hospital and Healthcare Compensation Service (HHCS), Sullivan, Cotter, and Associates (S&C), Medical Group Management Association (MGMA), and the Survey of Dental Practice published by the American Dental Association (ADA) were collectively utilized as benchmarks from which to prescribe annual pay ranges for physicians and dentists across the scope of assignments/specialties within the Department. While aggregating the data, a preponderance of weight was given to those surveys which most directly resembled the environment of the Department. In constructing annual pay ranges to accommodate the more than 40 physician and dentist specialties that currently exist in the VA system, VA continued the practice of grouping specialties into consolidated pay ranges. This allows VA to use multiple sources that yield a high number of physician salary data which helps to minimize disparities and aberrations that may surface from data involving smaller numbers of physicians and dentists for comparison and from sample change from year to year. Thus, by aggregating multiple survey sources into like groupings, greater confidence exists that the average compensation reported is truly representative. In addition, aggregation of data provides for a large enough sample size and provides pay ranges with maximum flexibility for pay setting for the more than 25,000 VHA physicians and dentists. In developing the annual pay ranges, a few distinctive principles were factored into the compensation analysis of the data. The first principle is to ensure that both the minimum and maximum salary is at a level that accommodates special employment situations, from fellowships and medical research career development awards to Nobel Laureates, high-cost areas, and internationally renowned clinicians. The second principle is to provide ranges large enough to accommodate career progression, geographic differences, sub-specialization, and other special factors. Forty-one clinical specialties were reviewed against available, relevant private sector data. The specialties are grouped into four clinical pay ranges that reflect comparable complexity in salary, recruitment, and retention considerations. Two additional pay ranges apply to VHA Chiefs of Staff and physicians and dentists in executive level administrative assignments at the facility, network, or headquarters level. Pay Table 1--Clinical Specialty ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Tier level Minimum Maximum ------------------------------------------------------------------------ TIER 1.................................. $100,957 $225,000 TIER 2.................................. 110,000 234,000 TIER 3.................................. 120,000 262,000 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Pay Table 1--Covered Clinical Specialties ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Endocrinology Endodontics General Practice--Dentistry Geriatrics Infectious Diseases Internal Medicine/Primary Care/Family Practice Palliative Care Periodontics Preventive Medicine Prosthodontics Rheumatology All other specialties or assignments that do not require a specific specialty ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Pay Table 2--Clinical Specialty ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Tier level Minimum Maximum ------------------------------------------------------------------------ TIER 1.................................. $100,957 $264,000 TIER 2.................................. 115,000 292,000 TIER 3.................................. 130,000 320,000 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Pay Table 2--Covered Clinical Specialties ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Allergy and Immunology Hospitalist Nephrology Neurology Pathology PM&R/SCI Psychiatry ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Pay Table 3--Clinical Specialty ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Tier level Minimum Maximum ------------------------------------------------------------------------ TIER 1.................................. $100,957 $348,000 TIER 2.................................. 120,000 365,000 TIER 3.................................. 135,000 385,000 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Pay Table 3--Covered Clinical Specialties ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Anesthesiology (Pain Management) [[Page 60413]] Cardiology (Non-Invasive) Emergency Medicine Gynecology Hematology-Oncology Nuclear Medicine Ophthalmology Oral Surgery Pulmonary ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Pay Table 4--Clinical Specialty ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Tier level Minimum Maximum ------------------------------------------------------------------------ TIER 1.................................. $100,957 $400,000 TIER 2.................................. 125,000 400,000 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Pay Table 4--Covered Clinical Specialties ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Anesthesiology Cardiology (Invasive/Non-Interventional) Cardio-Thoracic Surgery Critical Care Dermatology Dermatology (MOHS) Gastroenterology General Surgery Interventional Cardiology Interventional Radiology Neurosurgery Orthopedic Surgery Otolaryngology Plastic Surgery Radiology (Diagnostic) Radiation Oncology Urology Vascular Surgery ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Pay Table 5--Chief of Staff ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Tier level Minimum Maximum ------------------------------------------------------------------------ TIER 1.................................. $150,000 $309,000 TIER 2.................................. 145,000 289,000 TIER 3.................................. 140,000 270,000 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Pay Table 5--Covered Assignments ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------- VHA Chiefs of Staff Deputy Chiefs of Staff (Complexity Level 1a and 1b facilities only) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Pay Table 6--Executive Assignments ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Tier level Minimum Maximum ------------------------------------------------------------------------ TIER 1.................................. $145,000 $265,000 TIER 2.................................. 145,000 245,000 TIER 3.................................. 130,000 235,000 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Pay Table 6--Covered Executive Assignments ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Principal Deputy, Deputy Under Secretary for Health, Chief Officer, Network Director, Medical Center Director, Network Chief Officer, Executive Director, Assistant Under Secretary for Health, VA Central Office Chief Consultant, National Director, National Program Manager and other VA Central Office Physician/Dentist. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Signing Authority The Secretary of Veterans Affairs, or designee, approved this document and authorized the undersigned to sign and submit the document to the Office of the Federal Register for publication electronically as an official document of the Department of Veterans Affairs. Gina S. Farrisee, Deputy Chief of Staff, Department of Veterans Affairs, approved this document August 22, 2016, for publication. Dated: August 22, 2016. Jeffrey Martin, Office Program Manager, Office of Regulation Policy & Management, Office of the Secretary, Department of Veterans Affairs. [FR Doc. 2016-20910 Filed 8-31-16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 8320-01-P
![Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 170 / Thursday, September 1, 2016 / Notices 60411
ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments results of the preceding benchmark widely for individual custodians; end-
to Dwight Wolkow, International survey to make economy-wide estimates investors providing security-by-security
Portfolio Investment Data Systems, for that non-benchmark year. Currently, information will require an average of
Department of the Treasury, Room 5422 the determination of who must report in 146 hours; and reporters entrusting their
MT, 1500 Pennsylvania Avenue NW., the annual surveys is based primarily on foreign securities to U.S. custodians will
Washington, DC 20220. In view of the data submitted during the preceding require an average of 49 hours. The
possible delays in mail delivery, you benchmark survey. The data requested exemption level, which applies only in
may also wish to send a copy to Mr. in the annual survey will generally be benchmark years when filing schedules
Wolkow by email (comments2TIC@ the same as requested in the preceding 2 or 3 or both, for custodians and for
do.treas.gov) or FAX (202–622–2009). benchmark report. Form SHC is used for end-investors is the holding of less than
Mr. Wolkow can also be reached by the benchmark survey of all significant $200 million in reportable foreign
telephone (202–622–1276). U.S.-resident custodians and end- securities owned by U.S. residents. For
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: investors regarding U.S. ownership of schedule 2, end-investors should
Copies of the proposed form and foreign securities. In non-benchmark exclude securities that are held with
instructions are available at Part II of the years Form SHCA is used for the annual their unaffiliated U.S.-resident
Treasury International Capital (TIC) surveys of primarily the very largest custodians.
Forms Web page ‘‘Forms SHL/SHLA & U.S.-resident custodians and end- Estimated Total Annual Burden
SHC/SHCA’’, at: https:// investors. Hours: An annual average (over five
www.treasury.gov/resource-center/data- Current Actions: No changes in the years) of 53,260 hours.
chart-center/tic/Pages/forms- forms will be made from the previous Frequency of Response: Annual.
sh.aspx#shc. The proposed forms and survey that was conducted as of Request for Comments: Comments
instructions are unchanged from the December 31, 2015. The proposed submitted in response to this notice will
changes in the instructions are: (1) An be summarized and/or included in the
previous survey that was conducted as
increase in the exemption level (the request for Office of Management and
of December 31, 2015 (SHCA(2015)),
threshold for reporting) for filing Budget approval. All comments will
except that (a) the ‘‘who must report’’
schedules 2 and 3 under this mandatory become a matter of public record. The
section of the instructions is designed
survey will be increased from $100 public is invited to submit written
for a benchmark survey, and (b) the
million to $200 million; and (2) some comments concerning: (a) Whether the
‘‘Current Actions’’ below are included
clarifications of existing instructions Survey is necessary for the proper
in the instructions. Requests for
may be made in the instructions. The performance of the functions of the
additional information should be
changes will reduce the total burden on Office of International Affairs within the
directed to Mr. Wolkow.
data filers. Department of the Treasury, including
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Type of Review: Revision of currently
Title: Treasury International Capital whether the information collected will
approved data collection.
(TIC) Form SHC/SHCA ‘‘U.S. have practical uses; (b) the accuracy of
Affected Public: Business/Financial
Ownership of Foreign Securities, Institutions. the above estimate of the burdens; (c)
including Selected Money Market Form: TIC SHC/SHCA, Schedules 1, 2 ways to enhance the quality, usefulness
Instruments.’’ and 3 (1505–0146). and clarity of the information to be
OMB Control Number: 1505–0146. Estimated Number of Respondents: collected; (d) ways to minimize the
Abstract: Form SHC/SHCA is part of An annual average (over five years) of reporting and/or record keeping burdens
the Treasury International Capital (TIC) 306, but this varies widely from about on respondents, including the use of
reporting system, which is required by 785 in benchmark years (once every five information technologies to automate
law (22 U.S.C. 3101 et seq.; E.O. 11961; years) to about 190 in other years (four the collection of the data requested; and
31 CFR 129) and is used to conduct out of every five years). (e) estimates of capital or start-up costs
annual surveys of U.S. residents’ Estimated Average Time per of operation, maintenance and purchase
ownership of foreign securities for Respondent: An annual average (over of services to provide the information
portfolio investment purposes. These five years) of about 174 hours, but this requested.
data are used by the U.S. Government in will vary widely from respondent to Dwight Wolkow,
the formulation of international respondent. (a) In the year of a Administrator, International Portfolio
financial and monetary policies, and for benchmark survey, which is conducted Investment Data Systems.
the computation of the U.S. balance of once every five years, it is estimated that [FR Doc. 2016–21064 Filed 8–31–16; 8:45 am]
payments accounts and of the U.S. exempt respondents will require an
BILLING CODE 4810–25–P
international investment position. These average of 17 hours; custodians of
data are also used to provide securities providing security-by-security
information to the public and to meet information will require an average of
international reporting commitments. 361 hours, but this figure will vary DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS
The SHC/SHCA survey is part of an widely for individual custodians; end- AFFAIRS
internationally coordinated effort under investors providing security-by-security
Annual Pay Ranges for Physicians and
the auspices of the International information will require an average of
Dentists of the Veterans Health
Monetary Fund to improve data on 121 hours; and end-investors and
Administration (VHA)
securities worldwide. Most of the major custodians employing U.S. custodians
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
industrial and financial countries will require an average of 41 hours. (b) AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs.
conduct similar surveys. In a non-benchmark year, which occurs ACTION: Notice.
The data collection includes large four years out of every five years:
benchmark surveys conducted every Custodians of securities providing SUMMARY: As required by the
five years, and smaller annual surveys security-by-security information will ‘‘Department of Veterans Affairs Health
conducted in the non-benchmark years. require an average of 546 hours (because Care Personnel Enhancement Act of
The data collected under an annual only the largest U.S.-resident custodians 2004’’ (Pub. L. 108–445, dated
survey are used in conjunction with the will report), but this figure will vary December 3, 2004) the Department of
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![Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 170 / Thursday, September 1, 2016 / Notices 60413
PAY TABLE 3—COVERED CLINICAL PAY TABLE 6—COVERED EXECUTIVE ADDRESSES: Submit written comments
SPECIALTIES—Continued ASSIGNMENTS on the collection of information through
Federal Docket Management System
Cardiology (Non-Invasive) Principal Deputy, Deputy Under Secretary for (FDMS) at www.Regulations.gov or to
Emergency Medicine Health, Chief Officer, Network Director, Nancy J. Kessinger, Veterans Benefits
Gynecology Medical Center Director, Network Chief Of- Administrations (20M33), Department
Hematology-Oncology ficer, Executive Director, Assistant Under of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont
Nuclear Medicine Secretary for Health, VA Central Office Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20420 or
Ophthalmology Chief Consultant, National Director, Na- email to nancy.kessinger@va.gov. Please
Oral Surgery tional Program Manager and other VA
refer to ‘‘OMB Control No. 2900–0011’’
Pulmonary Central Office Physician/Dentist.
in any correspondence. During the
comment period, comments may be
Signing Authority
PAY TABLE 4—CLINICAL SPECIALTY viewed online through FDMS.
The Secretary of Veterans Affairs, or
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Tier level Minimum Maximum designee, approved this document and
Nancy J. Kessinger at (202) 632–8924 or
authorized the undersigned to sign and
FAX (202) 632–8925.
TIER 1 ...... $100,957 $400,000 submit the document to the Office of the
TIER 2 ...... 125,000 400,000 Federal Register for publication SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the
electronically as an official document of PRA of 1995 (Pub. L. 104–13; 44 U.S.C.
the Department of Veterans Affairs. Gina 3501–21), Federal agencies must obtain
PAY TABLE 4—COVERED CLINICAL S. Farrisee, Deputy Chief of Staff, approval from the Office of Management
SPECIALTIES Department of Veterans Affairs, and Budget (OMB) for each collection of
approved this document August 22, information they conduct or sponsor.
Anesthesiology 2016, for publication. This request for comment is being made
Cardiology (Invasive/Non-Interventional) Dated: August 22, 2016. pursuant to Section 3506 (c)(2)(A) of the
Cardio-Thoracic Surgery
Jeffrey Martin,
PRA.
Critical Care With respect to the following
Dermatology Office Program Manager, Office of Regulation
Policy & Management, Office of the Secretary, collection of information, VBA invites
Dermatology (MOHS) comments on: (1) Whether the proposed
Department of Veterans Affairs.
Gastroenterology collection of information is necessary
[FR Doc. 2016–20910 Filed 8–31–16; 8:45 am]
General Surgery for the proper performance of VBA’s
Interventional Cardiology BILLING CODE 8320–01–P
functions, including whether the
Interventional Radiology
information will have practical utility;
Neurosurgery
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS (2) the accuracy of VBA’s estimate of the
Orthopedic Surgery
AFFAIRS burden of the proposed collection of
Otolaryngology
information; (3) ways to enhance the
Plastic Surgery [OMB Control No. 2900–0011]
quality, utility, and clarity of the
Radiology (Diagnostic)
Radiation Oncology Proposed Information Collection information to be collected; and (4)
Urology (Application for Reinstatement— ways to minimize the burden of the
Vascular Surgery Insurance Lapsed More Than 6 Months collection of information on
(29–352) and Application for respondents, including through the use
Reinstatement—Non Medical of automated collection techniques or
PAY TABLE 5—CHIEF OF STAFF Comparative Health Statement (29– the use of other forms of information
353)) Activity: Comment Request technology.
Tier level Minimum Maximum Title: Application for Reinstatement—
AGENCY: Veterans Benefits Insurance Lapsed More Than 6 Months
TIER 1 ...... $150,000 $309,000 Administration, Department of Veterans (VA Form 29–352) and Application for
TIER 2 ...... 145,000 289,000 Affairs Reinstatement—Non Medical
TIER 3 ...... 140,000 270,000 ACTION: Notice. Comparative Health Statement (VA
Form 29–353).
SUMMARY: The Veterans Benefits
PAY TABLE 5—COVERED Administration (VBA), Department of OMB Control Number: 2900–0011.
ASSIGNMENTS Veterans Affairs (VA), is announcing an Type of Review: Extension of a
opportunity for public comment on the currently approved collection.
VHA Chiefs of Staff proposed collection of certain Abstract: These forms are used by
Deputy Chiefs of Staff (Complexity Level 1a information by the agency. Under the veterans who are requesting a
and 1b facilities only) Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of reinstatement of their lapsed life
1995, Federal agencies are required to insurance policies.
PAY TABLE 6—EXECUTIVE publish notice in the Federal Register Affected Public: Individuals or
ASSIGNMENTS concerning each proposed collection of households.
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
information, including each proposed
Estimated Annual Burden: 1,125
Tier level Minimum Maximum extension of a currently approved
hours.
collection, and allow 60 days for public
TIER 1 ...... $145,000 $265,000 comment in response to the notice. Estimated Average Burden per
TIER 2 ...... 145,000 245,000 DATES: Written comments and
Respondent: 22.5 minutes.
TIER 3 ...... 130,000 235,000 recommendations on the proposed Frequency of Response: On occasion.
collection of information should be Estimated Number of Respondents:
received on or before October 31, 2016. 3000.
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Document Created: 2018-02-09 11:57:14
Document Modified: 2018-02-09 11:57:14
| Category | Regulatory Information | |
| Collection | Federal Register | |
| sudoc Class | AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106: | |
| Publisher | Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration | |
| Section | Notices | |
| Action | Notice. | |
| Dates | Effective Dates: Annual pay ranges are effective November 13, 2016. | |
| Contact | Debra Doty, HR Specialist/Title 38 Program Manager, Compensation and Classification Service (055), Office of Human Resources Management, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20420, (757) 291-6514. (This is not a toll-free number.) | |
| FR Citation | 81 FR 60411 |
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