Department of Veterans Affairs Continuing Professional Education Modernization Act or the VA CPE Modernization Act
This bill modifies the program under which the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) reimburses specified full-time health care professionals for continuing professional education expenses.
Under current law, only board-certified physicians and dentists are eligible for such reimbursement. The bill expands the program to require reimbursement for various specified full-time health care professionals (e.g., registered nurses) and increases the amount available for a physician or dentist. Additionally, the bill removes the requirement that an individual be board-certified to receive reimbursement.
The VA may adjust the amounts available based on inflation.
To amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the reimbursement of 
      continuing professional education expenses for health care 
          professionals of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Department of Veterans Affairs 
Continuing Professional Education Modernization Act'' or the ``VA CPE 
Modernization Act''.

SEC. 2. IMPROVEMENT TO REIMBURSEMENT OF CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL 
              EDUCATION EXPENSES FOR HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS OF 
              DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

    (a) Reimbursement.--Section 7411 of title 38, United States Code, 
is amended to read as follows:
``Sec. 7411. Reimbursement of continuing professional education 
              expenses
    ``(a) Reimbursement.--The Secretary shall reimburse a full-time 
health care professional of the Department for expenses incurred for 
continuing professional education in amounts as follows:
            ``(1) With respect to a physician or dentist appointed 
        under section 7401(1) of this title, not more than $4,000 per 
        year.
            ``(2) With respect to an individual appointed to a position 
        listed in section 7401(1) that is not covered by paragraph (1), 
        not more than $2,000 per year.
            ``(3) With respect to an individual appointed to a position 
        listed in section 7401(3), not more than $2,000 per year.
    ``(b) Adjustment.--The Secretary may from time to time adjust the 
dollar amounts specified in subsection (a) based upon inflation.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of 
chapter 74 of such title is amended by striking the item relating to 
section 7411 and inserting the following new item:

``7411. Reimbursement of continuing professional education expenses.''.
                                 <all>
VA CPE Modernization Act
To amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the reimbursement of continuing professional education expenses for health care professionals of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Department of Veterans Affairs Continuing Professional Education Modernization Act
VA CPE Modernization Act
Rep. Brownley, Julia