IMPROVEMENTS TO AUTHORITY FOR PERFORMANCE OF MEDICAL DISABILITIES EXAMINATIONS BY CONTRACT PHYSICIANS.

SEC. 109. IMPROVEMENTS TO AUTHORITY FOR PERFORMANCE OF MEDICAL DISABILITIES EXAMINATIONS BY CONTRACT PHYSICIANS. (a) Licensure of Contract Physicians.— (1) Temporary authority.—Section 704 of the Veterans Benefits Act of 2003 (38 U.S.C. 5101 note) is amended— (A) by redesignating subsection (d) as subsection (e); and (B) by inserting after subsection (c) the following new subsection (d): “(d) Licensure of Contract Physicians.— “(1) In general.—Notwithstanding any law regarding the licensure of physicians, a physician described in paragraph (2) may conduct an examination pursuant to a contract entered into under subsection (b) at any location in any State, the District of Columbia, or a Commonwealth, territory, or possession of the United States, so long as the examination is within the scope of the authorized duties under such contract. “(2) Physician described.—A physician described in this paragraph is a physician who— “(A) has a current unrestricted license to practice the health care profession of the physician; “(B) is not barred from practicing such health care profession in any State, the District of Columbia, or a Commonwealth, territory, or possession of the United States; and “(C) is performing authorized duties for the Department of Veterans Affairs pursuant to a contract entered into under subsection (b).” . (2) Pilot program.—Section 504 of the Veterans’ Benefits Improvement Act of 1996 (38 U.S.C. 5101 note) is amended— (A) by redesignating subsections (c) and (d) as subsections (d) and (e), respectively; and (B) by inserting after subsection (b) the following new subsection (c): “(c) Licensure of Contract Physicians.— “(1) In General.—Notwithstanding any law regarding the licensure of physicians, a physician described in paragraph (2) may conduct an examination pursuant to a contract entered into under subsection (a) at any location in any State, the District of Columbia, or a Commonwealth, territory, or possession of the United States, so long as the examination is within the scope of the authorized duties under such contract. “(2) Physician described.—A physician described in this paragraph is a physician who— “(A) has a current unrestricted license to practice the health care profession of the physician; “(B) is not barred from practicing such health care profession in any State, the District of Columbia, or a Commonwealth, territory, or possession of the United States; and “(C) is performing authorized duties for the Department of Veterans Affairs pursuant to a contract entered into under subsection (a).” .