83 FR 46258 - Annual Pay Ranges for Physicians, Dentists, and Podiatrists of the Veterans Health Administration (VHA)

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 177 (September 12, 2018)

Page Range		46258-46259
FR Document		2018-19847

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Mission Act of 2018 (VA Maintaining Systems and Strengthening Integrated Outside Networks Act), Section 502, provides that podiatrists be paid from the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) physician and dentist pay system.

Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 177 (Wednesday, September 12, 2018)

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 177 (Wednesday, September 12, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46258-46259]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-19847]


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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS


Annual Pay Ranges for Physicians, Dentists, and Podiatrists of 
the Veterans Health Administration (VHA)

AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Mission Act of 2018 
(VA Maintaining Systems and Strengthening Integrated Outside Networks 
Act), Section 502, provides that podiatrists be paid from the Veterans 
Health Administration (VHA) physician and dentist pay system.

DATES: Annual pay ranges are applicable November 25, 2018.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Farine Cohen, Program Analyst, Policy 
and Programs, VHA Workforce Management and Consulting Office (10A2A), 
Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue NW, Washington, DC 
20420, (202) 461-7179. This is not a toll-free number.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: As required by the ``Department of Veterans 
Affairs Health Care Personnel Enhancement Act of 2004,'' (Pub. L. 108-
445, dated December 3, 2004) VA is hereby giving notice of annual pay 
ranges for VHA podiatrists as prescribed by the Secretary for 
Department-wide applicability. The pay table placement and annual 
salary rates of podiatrists is intended to enhance the flexibility of 
the Department to recruit, develop, and retain the most highly-
qualified podiatrists to serve our Nation's Veterans and maintain a 
standard of excellence in the VA health care system. Under 38 United 
States Code (U.S.C.) 7431(e)(1)(A), not less often than once every 2 
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, 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.

[[Page 46259]]

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 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. Sullivan 
Cotter and Associates, Medical Group Management Association, and Korn 
Ferry Hay Group Healthcare Compensation were collectively utilized as 
benchmarks from which to prescribe annual pay ranges for podiatrists 
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 developing pay table placement and annual salary rates of 
podiatrists, 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.
    Several VA data sources were reviewed against available, relevant 
private sector data. The podiatry specialties are grouped into one 
clinical pay range that reflect comparable complexity in salary, 
recruitment, and retention considerations.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                    Tier level                       Minimum    Maximum
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                     Pay Table 1--Clinical Specialty
------------------------------------------------------------------------
TIER 1............................................   $100,967   $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.
Podiatry (General).
Podiatry (Surgery--Forefoot, Rearfoot/Ankle, Advanced Rearfoot/Ankle).
Preventive Medicine.
Prosthodontics.
Rheumatology.
All other specialties or assignments not requiring a specific specialty
 training or certification.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Signing Authority

    The Secretary of Veterans Affairs 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. Robert L. 
Wilkie, Secretary, Department of Veterans Affairs, approved this 
document on September 7, 2018 for publication.

    Dated: September 7, 2018.
Luvenia Potts,
Program Specialist, Office of Regulation Policy & Management, Office of 
the Secretary, Department of Veterans Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2018-19847 Filed 9-11-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 8320-01-P

46258 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 177 / Wednesday, September 12, 2018 / Notices

Benjamin D. Herndon, Chief Research, Richard A. Peterson, Senior Technical DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS
Applied, Analytics & Statistics Advisor, Deputy Commissioner for AFFAIRS
John E. Hinding, Director, Cross Border Services and Enforcement
Activities Practice Area, Large Robert A. Ragano, Deputy, Associate Annual Pay Ranges for Physicians,
Business & International Chief Information Officer for Dentists, and Podiatrists of the
David W. Horton, Deputy Applications Development, Veterans Health Administration (VHA)
Commissioner, Tax Exempt & Information Technology AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs.
Government Entities Tamera L. Ripperda, Deputy ACTION: Notice.
Cecil T. Hua, Director, Infrastructure Commissioner, Small Business/Self-
Services, Information Technology Employed SUMMARY: The Department of Veterans
Eric C. Hylton, Deputy Chief Criminal Bridget T. Roberts, Deputy National Affairs (VA) Mission Act of 2018 (VA
Investigation Taxpayer Advocate Maintaining Systems and Strengthening
Scott E. Irick, Director, Examination Richard L. Rodriguez, Chief, Facilities Integrated Outside Networks Act),
Headquarters, Small Business/Self- Management and Security Services Section 502, provides that podiatrists be
Employed Rene S. Schwartzman, Director Identity paid from the Veterans Health
Sharon C. James, Associate Chief Assurance, Privacy, Governmental Administration (VHA) physician and
Information Officer, Cybersecurity, Liaison and Disclosure dentist pay system.
Information Technology Theodore D. Setzer, Assistant Deputy DATES: Annual pay ranges are applicable
Tracy A. Keeter, Director, Enterprise Commissioner International, Large November 25, 2018.
Technology Implementation, Business & International FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Information Technology Verline A. Shepherd, Associate Chief Farine Cohen, Program Analyst, Policy
Andrew J. Keyso Jr., Deputy Chief Information Officer for User and and Programs, VHA Workforce
Appeals Network Services, Information Management and Consulting Office
Edward T. Killen, Chief Privacy Officer, Technology (10A2A), Department of Veterans
Privacy, Governmental Liaison and Nancy A. Sieger, Associate Chief Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue NW,
Disclosure Information Officer for Applications Washington, DC 20420, (202) 461–7179.
Ronald J. Leidner Jr., Director, Data Development, Information This is not a toll-free number.
Delivery Services, Information Technology SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: As
Technology Susan Simon, Director, Field required by the ‘‘Department of Veterans
Terry Lemons, Chief Communications & Assistance, Wage & Investment Affairs Health Care Personnel
Liaison Enhancement Act of 2004,’’ (Pub. L.
Harrison Smith, Deputy Chief
Sunita B. Lough, Commissioner, Tax 108–445, dated December 3, 2004) VA is
Procurement Officer
Exempt & Government Entities hereby giving notice of annual pay
Tommy A. Smith, Associate Chief
William H. Maglin II, Associate Chief ranges for VHA podiatrists as prescribed
Information Officer, Strategy and
Financial Officer for Financial by the Secretary for Department-wide
Planning, Information Technology
Management, Chief Financial Office applicability. The pay table placement
Paul J. Mamo, Director, Collection, Marla L. Somerville, Deputy Chief
and annual salary rates of podiatrists is
Small Business/Self-Employed Information Officer for Strategy and
intended to enhance the flexibility of
Modernization, Information
Lee D. Martin, Director, Whistleblower the Department to recruit, develop, and
Technology
Office retain the most highly-qualified
Erick Martinez, Director Field Beverly E. Thomas, Director,
podiatrists to serve our Nation’s
Operations—Northern Area, Criminal Collection—Campus, Small Business/
Veterans and maintain a standard of
Investigation Self-Employed
excellence in the VA health care system.
Ivy S. McChesney, Director, Kathryn D. Vaughan, Director, Under 38 United States Code (U.S.C.)
Examination—Ogden, Small Operations Support, Small Business/ 7431(e)(1)(A), not less often than once
Business/Self-Employed Self-Employed every 2 years, the Secretary must
Kevin Q. McIver, Deputy IRS Human Margaret Von Lienen, Director, Exempt prescribe for Department-wide
Capital Officer Organizations, Tax Exempt & applicability the minimum and
Karen A. Michaels, Director, Accounts Government Entities maximum amounts of annual pay that
Management, Wage & Investment Keith A. Walker, Director, Program and may be paid to VHA physicians and
Kevin M. Morehead, Director, Business Solutions, Large Business & dentists. Further, 38 U.S.C. 7431(e)(1)(B)
Operations Support, Wage & International allows the Secretary to prescribe
Investment Shanna R. Webbers, Chief Procurement separate minimum and maximum
Mary E. Murphy, Commissioner, Small Officer amounts of pay for a specialty or
Business/Self-Employed Stephen A. Whitlock, Director, Office of assignment. In construction of the
Frank A. Nolden, Director, Stakeholder, Professional Responsibility annual pay ranges, 38 U.S.C.
Partnerships, Education & Lavena B. Williams, Director, Eastern 7431(c)(4)(A) requires the consultation
Communication, Wage & Investment Compliance, Large Business & of two or more national surveys of pay,
Douglas W. O’Donnell, Commissioner, International whether prepared by private, public, or
Large Business & International This document does not meet the quasi-public entities, in order to make a
Nina E. Olson, National Taxpayer Treasury’s criteria for significant general assessment of the range of pays
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES

Advocate regulations. payable to physicians and dentists.
Kaschit D. Pandya, Deputy Associate Lastly, 38 U.S.C. 7431(e)(1)(C) states
Chief Information Officer, Enterprise Jeffrey J. Tribiano, amounts prescribed under paragraph
Operations, Information Technology Deputy Commissioner for Operations 7431(e) shall be published in the
Holly O. Paz, Director, Pass Through Support, Internal Revenue Service. Federal Register and shall not take
Entities, Large Business & [FR Doc. 2018–19618 Filed 9–11–18; 8:45 am] effect until at least 60 days after date of
International BILLING CODE 4830–01–P publication.

VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:41 Sep 11, 2018 Jkt 244001 PO 00000 Frm 00123 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\12SEN1.SGM 12SEN1

$Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 177 / Wednesday, September 12, 2018 / Notices 46259 Background a preponderance of weight was given to Tier level Minimum Maximum The ‘‘Department of Veterans Affairs those surveys which most directly Health Care Personnel Enhancement Act resembled the environment of the Endodontics. of 2004’’ (Pub. L. 108–445) was signed Department. General Practice—Dentistry. In developing pay table placement Geriatrics. by the President on December 3, 2004. Infectious Diseases. and annual salary rates of podiatrists, a The major provisions of the law Internal Medicine/Primary Care/Family Prac- few distinctive principles were factored established a new pay system for VHA tice. into the compensation analysis of the physicians and dentists consisting of Palliative Care. data. The first principle is to ensure that base pay, market pay, and performance Periodontics. both the minimum and maximum salary pay. While the base pay component is Podiatry (General). is at a level that accommodates special set by statute, market pay is intended to Podiatry (Surgery—Forefoot, Rearfoot/Ankle, employment situations, from Advanced Rearfoot/Ankle). reflect the recruitment and retention fellowships and medical research career needs for the specialty or assignment of Preventive Medicine. development awards to Nobel Laureates, Prosthodontics. a particular physician or dentist at a high-cost areas, and internationally- facility. Further, performance pay is Rheumatology. renowned clinicians. The second All other specialties or assignments not re- intended to recognize the achievement principle is to provide ranges large quiring a specific specialty training or cer- of specific goals and performance enough to accommodate career tification. objectives prescribed annually. These progression, geographic differences, three components create a system of pay sub-specialization, and other special Signing Authority that is driven by both market indicators factors. and employee performance, while Several VA data sources were The Secretary of Veterans Affairs recognizing employee tenure in VHA. reviewed against available, relevant approved this document and authorized Discussion private sector data. The podiatry the undersigned to sign and submit the specialties are grouped into one clinical document to the Office of the Federal VA identified and utilized salary pay range that reflect comparable Register for publication electronically as survey data sources which most closely complexity in salary, recruitment, and an official document of the Department represent VA comparability in the areas retention considerations. of Veterans Affairs. Robert L. Wilkie, of practice setting, employment Secretary, Department of Veterans environment, and hospital/health care Tier level Minimum Maximum Affairs, approved this document on system. Sullivan Cotter and Associates, September 7, 2018 for publication. Medical Group Management Pay Table 1—Clinical Specialty Association, and Korn Ferry Hay Group Dated: September 7, 2018. Healthcare Compensation were TIER 1 ...................... $100,967 $225,000 Luvenia Potts, collectively utilized as benchmarks from TIER 2 ...................... 110,000 234,000 Program Specialist, Office of Regulation TIER 3 ...................... 120,000 262,000 Policy & Management, Office of the Secretary, which to prescribe annual pay ranges for podiatrists across the scope of Department of Veterans Affairs. Pay Table 1—Covered Clinical Specialties assignments/specialties within the [FR Doc. 2018–19847 Filed 9–11–18; 8:45 am] Department. While aggregating the data, Endocrinology. BILLING CODE 8320–01–P daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:41 Sep 11, 2018 Jkt 244001 PO 00000 Frm 00124 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 9990 E:\FR\FM\12SEN1.SGM 12SEN1$

Document Created: 2018-09-12 02:06:35
Document Modified: 2018-09-12 02:06:35

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		Annual pay ranges are applicable November 25, 2018.
Contact		Farine Cohen, Program Analyst, Policy and Programs, VHA Workforce Management and Consulting Office (10A2A), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20420, (202) 461-7179. This is not a toll-free number.
FR Citation		83 FR 46258