Reps. Cherfilus-McCormick, Kiggans Introduce the Department of Veterans Affairs Therapeutic Medical Physicist Pay Cap Relief Act
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Reps. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL) and Jen Kiggans (R-VA) introduced the Department of Veterans Affairs Therapeutic Medical Physicist Pay Cap Relief Act.
Therapeutic medical physicists (TMPs) at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) work with radiation oncologists during radiation treatment planning and delivery. The Department of Veterans Affairs Therapeutic Medical Physicist Pay Cap Relief Act would eliminate the pay cap for TMPs, delivering higher quality care to veterans, improving TMP recruitment and retention, and lowering total costs for the VA.
Over the past fifteen years, TMP salaries have increased nationwide as radiation therapy has become more sophisticated and more common. However, VA TMPs earn approximately $40,000 less than their private sector counterparts ― forcing the VA to overspend on contracted TMP services, which could be done more reliably in-house and at a much lower cost.
“Therapeutic medical physicists play an instrumental role in supporting veterans receiving cancer care at VA facilities,” said Congresswoman Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL). “If action is not taken to reverse the VA TMP workforce shortfall, veterans will not receive the world-class radiation therapy that they earned serving our country. Everyone stands to benefit from this bipartisan legislation ― our veterans, health providers, and the VA.”
"Our veterans deserve access to the best care possible when they visit VA medical centers," said Congresswoman Jen Kiggans (R-VA). "Unfortunately, many of our veterans were exposed to harmful substances and toxins during their service and developed diseases and conditions that require radiation testing and treatment. By attracting qualified Therapeutic Medical Physicists to work in our veteran care networks, we can both ensure our former servicemembers are treated by the best and most qualified healthcare professionals while saving taxpayer dollars in the process. As a veteran and a geriatric nurse practitioner, I'm proud to join Congresswoman Cherfilus-McCormick on this bipartisan bill!”
“The American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) strongly endorses this legislation, which will help VA hospitals hire and retain therapeutic medical physicists. VA hospitals across the country have faced challenges in recruiting and retaining therapeutic medical physicists due to statutory limitations on how much they can pay. Therapeutic medical physicists are an integral part of a patient’s cancer care team, ensuring the precision and safety of radiation therapy. If signed into law, this bill will ensure our veterans have access to the highest quality cancer care. We commend Representatives Cherfilus-McCormick and Kiggans for their leadership on this important issue,” said Dr. Ehsan Samei, President of the American Association of Physicists in Medicine.
“The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) supports eliminating the pay cap for Department of Veterans Affairs Therapeutic Medical Physicists (TMPs). Radiation oncologists work closely with TMPs to ensure that complex cancer treatments using radiation are properly tailored for each patient. Our nation’s Veterans deserve the safest, most effective cancer care possible, and high-quality TMP support is critical to achieving that goal. ASTRO believes that this legislation will allow the VA to compete for and retain these important members of the radiation oncology treatment team,” said Jeff Michalski, MD, MBA, FASTRO, Chair, ASTRO Board of Directors.
The legislation is endorsed by the American Society for Radiation Oncology and the American Association of Physicists in Medicine.
The full text of the legislation can be found here.