text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
  
      This Act may be cited as the ``Grow Our Own Directive: Physician 
  Assistant Employment and Education Act of 2015''.
  
  SEC. 2. PILOT PROGRAM TO PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE TO PHYSICIAN 
                ASSISTANTS TO BE EMPLOYED AT THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS 
                AFFAIRS.
  
      (a) Pilot Program.--
              (1) In general.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
          carry out a pilot program to be known as the ``Grow Our Own 
          Directive'' or ``G.O.O.D.'' pilot program (in this section 
          referred to as the ``pilot program'') to provide educational 
          assistance to certain former members of the Armed Forces for 
          education and training as physician assistants of the 
          Department of Veterans Affairs.
              (2) Information on pilot program.--The Secretary shall 
          provide information on the pilot program to eligible 
          individuals under subsection (b), including information on 
          application requirements and a list of entities with which the 
          Secretary has partnered under subsection (g).
      (b) Eligible Individuals.--An individual is eligible to participate 
  in the pilot program if the individual--
              (1) has medical or military health experience gained while 
          serving as a member of the Armed Forces;
              (2) has received a certificate, associate degree, 
          baccalaureate degree, master's degree, or postbaccalaureate 
          training in a science relating to health care;
              (3) has participated in the delivery of health care 
          services or related medical services, including participation 
          in military training relating to the identification, 
          evaluation, treatment, and prevention of diseases and 
          disorders; and
              (4) does not have a degree of doctor of medicine, doctor of 
          osteopathy, or doctor of dentistry.
      (c) Duration.--The pilot program shall be carried out during the 
  five-year period beginning on the date that is 180 days after the date 
  of the enactment of this Act.
      (d) Selection.--
              (1) In general.--The Secretary shall select not less than 
          250 eligible individuals under subsection (b) to participate in 
          the pilot program.
              (2) Priority for selection.--In selecting individuals to 
          participate in the pilot program under paragraph (1), the 
          Secretary shall give priority to the following individuals:
                      (A) Individuals who participated in the 
                  Intermediate Care Technician Pilot Program of the 
                  Department that was carried out by the Secretary 
                  between January 2011 and February 2015.
                      (B) Individuals who agree to be employed as a 
                  physician assistant for the Veterans Health 
                  Administration at a medical facility of the Department 
                  located in a community that--
                              (i) is designated as a medically 
                          underserved population under section 
                          330(b)(3)(A) of the Public Health Service Act 
                          (42 U.S.C. 254b(b)(3)(A)); and
                              (ii) is in a State with a per capita 
                          population of veterans of more than 9 percent 
                          according to the National Center for Veterans 
                          Analysis and Statistics and the United States 
                          Census Bureau.
      (e) Educational Assistance.--
              (1) In general.--In carrying out the pilot program, the 
          Secretary shall provide educational assistance to individuals 
          participating in the pilot program, including through the use 
          of scholarships, to cover the costs to such individuals of 
          obtaining a master's degree in physician assistant studies or a 
          similar master's degree.
              (2) Use of existing programs.--In providing educational 
          assistance under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall use the 
          Department of Veterans Affairs Health Professionals Educational 
          Assistance Program under chapter 76 of title 38, United States 
          Code, and such other educational assistance programs of the 
          Department as the Secretary considers appropriate.
              (3) Use of scholarships.--The Secretary shall provide not 
          less than 35 scholarships under the pilot program to 
          individuals participating in the pilot program during each year 
          in which the pilot program is carried out.
      (f) Period of Obligated Service.--
              (1) In general.--The Secretary shall enter into an 
          agreement with each individual participating in the pilot 
          program in which such individual agrees to be employed as a 
          physician assistant for the Veterans Health Administration for 
          a period of obligated service specified in paragraph (2).
              (2) Period specified.--With respect to each individual 
          participating in the pilot program, the period of obligated 
          service specified in this paragraph for the individual is--
                      (A) if the individual is participating in the pilot 
                  program through a program described in subsection 
                  (e)(2) that specifies a period of obligated service, 
                  the period specified with respect to such program; or
                      (B) if the individual is participating in the pilot 
                  program other than through a program described in such 
                  subsection, or if such program does not specify a 
                  period of obligated service, a period of three years or 
                  such other period as the Secretary considers 
                  appropriate for purposes of the pilot program.
      (g) Breach.--
              (1) Liability.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), an 
          individual who participates in the pilot program and fails to 
          satisfy the period of obligated service under subsection (f) 
          shall be liable to the United States, in lieu of such obligated 
          service, for the amount that has been paid or is payable to or 
          on behalf of the individual under the pilot program, reduced by 
          the proportion that the number of days served for completion of 
          the period of obligated service bears to the total number of 
          days in the period of obligated service of such individual.
              (2) Exception.--If an individual is participating in the 
          pilot program through a program described in subsection (e)(2) 
          that specifies a period of obligated service, the liability of 
          the individual for failing to satisfy the period of obligated 
          service under subsection (f) shall be determined as specified 
          with respect to such program.
      (h) Mentors.--The Secretary shall ensure that a physician assistant 
  mentor or mentors are available for individuals participating in the 
  pilot program at each facility of the Veterans Health Administration at 
  which a participant in the pilot program is employed.
      (i) Partnerships.--In carrying out the pilot program, the Secretary 
  shall seek to partner with the following:
              (1) Not less than 15 institutions of higher education 
          that--
                      (A) offer a master's degree program in physician 
                  assistant studies or a similar area of study that is 
                  accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on 
                  Education for the Physician Assistant; and
                      (B) agree--
                              (i) to guarantee seats in such master's 
                          degree program for individuals participating in 
                          the pilot program who meet the entrance 
                          requirements for such master's degree program; 
                          and
                              (ii) to provide individuals participating 
                          in the pilot program with information on 
                          admissions criteria and the admissions process.
              (2) Other institutions of higher education that offer 
          programs in physician assistant studies or other similar areas 
          of studies that are accredited by the Accreditation Review 
          Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant.
              (3) The Transition Assistance Program of the Department of 
          Defense.
              (4) The Veterans' Employment and Training Service of the 
          Department of Labor.
              (5) Programs carried out under chapter 41 of title 38, 
          United State Code, for the purpose of marketing and advertising 
          the pilot program to veterans and members of the Armed Forces 
          who may be interested in the pilot program.
      (j) Administration of Pilot Program.--For purposes of carrying out 
  the pilot program, the Secretary shall appoint or select within the 
  Office of Physician Assistant Services of the Veterans Health 
  Administration the following:
              (1) A Deputy Director for Education and Career Development 
          of Physician Assistants who--
                      (A) is a physician assistant, a veteran, and 
                  employed by the Department as of the date of the 
                  enactment of this Act;
                      (B) is responsible for--
                              (i) overseeing the pilot program;
                              (ii) recruiting candidates to participate 
                          in the pilot program;
                              (iii) coordinating with individuals 
                          participating in the pilot program and 
                          assisting those individuals in applying and 
                          being admitted to a master's degree program 
                          under the pilot program; and
                              (iv) providing information to eligible 
                          individuals under subsection (b) with respect 
                          to the pilot program; and
                      (C) may be employed in the field at a medical 
                  center of the Department.
              (2) A Deputy Director of Recruitment and Retention who--
                      (A) is a physician assistant, a veteran, and 
                  employed by the Department as of the date of the 
                  enactment of this Act;
                      (B) is responsible for--
                              (i) identifying and coordinating the needs 
                          of the pilot program and assist the Secretary 
                          in providing mentors under subsection (h) to 
                          participants in the pilot program; and
                              (ii) coordinating the staff of facilities 
                          of the Veterans Health Administration with 
                          respect to identifying employment positions and 
                          mentors under subsection (h) for participants 
                          in the pilot program; and
                      (C) may be employed in the field at a medical 
                  center of the Department.
              (3) A recruiter who--
                      (A) reports directly to the Deputy Director of 
                  Recruitment and Retention; and
                      (B) works with the Workforce Management and 
                  Consulting Office and the Healthcare Talent Management 
                  Office of the Veterans Health Administration to develop 
                  and implement national recruiting strategic plans for 
                  the recruitment and retention of physician assistants 
                  within the Department.
              (4) An administrative assistant, compensated at a rate not 
          less than level GS-6 of the General Schedule, or equivalent, 
          who assists with administrative duties relating to the pilot 
          program in the Office of Physician Assistant Services and such 
          other duties as determined by the Secretary to ensure that the 
          Office runs effectively and efficiently.
      (k) Report.--
              (1) In general.--Not later than one year after the date of 
          the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, 
          in collaboration with the Secretary of Labor, the Secretary of 
          Defense, and the Secretary of Health and Human Services, shall 
          submit to Congress a report on the pilot program.
              (2) Elements.--The report required by paragraph (1) shall 
          include the following:
                      (A) The extent to which the pilot program is 
                  effective in improving the ability of eligible 
                  individuals under subsection (b) to become physician 
                  assistants.
                      (B) An examination of whether the pilot program is 
                  achieving the goals of--
                              (i) enabling individuals to build on 
                          medical skills gained as members of the Armed 
                          Forces by entering into the physician assistant 
                          workforce of the Department; and
                              (ii) helping to meet the shortage of 
                          physician assistants employed by the 
                          Department.
                      (C) An identification of such modifications to the 
                  pilot program as the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, the 
                  Secretary of Labor, the Secretary of Defense, and the 
                  Secretary of Health and Human Services consider 
                  necessary to meet the goals described in subparagraph 
                  (B).
                      (D) An assessment of whether the pilot program 
                  could serve as a model for other programs of the 
                  Department to assist individuals in obtaining 
                  certification and employment in other health care 
                  fields.
      (l) Source of Amounts.--Not less than $8,000,000 of the amount 
  necessary to carry out the pilot program shall be derived from amounts 
  appropriated to the Department of Veterans Affairs before the date of 
  the enactment of this Act.
  
  SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF STANDARDS FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS 
                AFFAIRS FOR USING EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS TO 
                EDUCATE AND HIRE PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS.
  
      (a) In General.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall establish 
  standards described in subsection (b) to improve the use by the 
  Department of Veterans Affairs of the Department of Veterans Affairs 
  Health Professionals Educational Assistance Program under chapter 76 of 
  title 38, United States Code, and other educational assistance programs 
  of the Department, including the pilot program under section 2, to 
  educate and hire physician assistants of the Department.
      (b) Standards.--The standards described in this subsection are the 
  following:
              (1) Holding directors of medical centers of the Department 
          accountable for failure to use the educational assistance 
          programs described in subsection (a) and other incentives--
                      (A) to advance employees of the Department in their 
                  education as physician assistants; and
                      (B) to improve recruitment and retention of 
                  physician assistants.
              (2) Ensuring that the Department of Veterans Affairs 
          Education Debt Reduction Program under subchapter VII of 
          chapter 76 of such title is available for participants in the 
          pilot program under section 2 to fill vacant physician 
          assistant positions at the Department, including by--
                      (A) including in all vacancy announcements for 
                  physician assistant positions the availability of the 
                  Education Debt Reduction Program; and
                      (B) informing applicants to physician assistant 
                  positions of their eligibility for the Education Debt 
                  Reduction Program.
              (3) Monitoring compliance with the application process for 
          educational assistance programs described in subsection (a) to 
          ensure that such programs are being fully utilized to carry out 
          this section.
              (4) Creating programs, including through the use of the 
          Department of Veterans Affairs Employee Incentive Scholarship 
          Program under subchapter VI of chapter 76 of such title, to 
          encourage employees of the Department to apply to accredited 
          physician assistant programs.
      (c) Regulations.--The Secretary shall prescribe such regulations as 
  the Secretary considers appropriate to carry out this section.
  
  SEC. 4. ESTABLISHMENT OF PAY GRADES FOR PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS OF THE 
                DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS AND REQUIREMENT TO PROVIDE 
                COMPETITIVE PAY.
  
      (a) Establishment of Pay Grades.--Section 7404(b) of title 38, 
  United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
  
  ``PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT SCHEDULE
  ``Physician Assistant IV.
  ``Physician Assistant III.
  ``Physician Assistant II.
  ``Physician Assistant I.''.
      (b) Competitive Pay.--Section 7451(a)(2) of such title is amended--
              (1) by redesignating subparagraph (B) as subparagraph (C);
              (2) by inserting after subparagraph (A) the following new 
          subparagraph (B):
                      ``(B) Physician assistant.''; and
              (3) in subparagraph (C), as redesignated by paragraph (1), 
          by striking ``and registered nurse'' and inserting ``registered 
          nurse, and physician assistant''.
      (c) National Strategic Plan.--
              (1) In general.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
          implement a national strategic plan for the retention and 
          recruitment of physician assistants of the Department of 
          Veterans Affairs that includes the establishment and adoption 
          of standards for the provision of competitive pay to physician 
          assistants of the Department in comparison to the pay of 
          physician assistants in the private sector.
              (2) Report.--Not later than one year after the date of the 
          enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the 
          Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the Committee 
          on Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives a report 
          on the implementation of the national strategic plan under 
          paragraph (1).
target: Grow Our Own Directive: Physician Assistant Employment and Education Act of 2015 This bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to carry out the Grow Our Own Directive or G.O.O.D. pilot program to provide educational assistance to certain former members of the Armed Forces for education and training as VA physician assistants.  An individual is eligible to participate in the program if the individual:   has medical or military health experience gained while serving in the Armed Forces;  has received a certificate, associate degree, baccalaureate degree, master's degree, or postbaccalaureate training in a science relating to health care;  has participated in the delivery of health care services or related medical services; and  does not have a degree of doctor of medicine, doctor of osteopathy, or doctor of dentistry.   The VA shall:   provide educational assistance to program participants for the costs of obtaining a master's degree in physician assistant studies or a similar master's degree,   ensure that mentors are available for program participants at each VA facility at which a participant is employed, and  seek to partner with specified government programs and with appropriate educational institutions that offer degrees in physician assistant studies.  The VA shall:   establish specified standards to improve the education and and hiring of VA physician assistants, and  implement a national plan for the retention and recruitment of VA physician assistants that includes the adoption of competitive pay standards.   VA physician assistant pay grades are established.
feat_title: Grow Our Own Directive: Physician Assistant Employment and Education Act of 2015