Hartzler introduces bill to reform VA, solve doctor and nurse shortage

Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler (R-MO) announced Friday her introduction of theVeterans Health Administration Recruitment, Hiring and Retention (REHIRE) Act of 2017, which empowers local Veteran Hospitals to recruit, hire and retain doctors and nurses to meet the growing shortage facing VA facilities. Sadly, VA hospitals around the nation are struggling to recruit and retain nurses and doctors because outdated federal regulations make competing with private hospitals nearly impossible. The REHIRE Act gives VA health facilities the authority to hire personnel more quickly and offer balanced incentives to retain employees for a longer period so our veterans receive the highest quality and most responsive care possible.

“I’m always looking for opportunities to streamline government and help our veterans, and the REHIRE Act does both,” said Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler. “VA hospitals can take six months to a year to fill one vacant position, an applicant can take as long as six months to make it through the hiring process. With all of this bureaucratic red tape, our veterans are the ones who pay the price. My bill streamlines the hiring process and balances incentives so our veterans get quality care when they need it.”

Veterans’ need for health care is currently outpacing the supply of providers. The lack of personnel, particularly in mission critical occupations (MCO) such as physicians, registered nurses, physical therapists, physician assistants, and occupational therapists, contributes to the extended wait times of our veterans. 

“The REHIRE Act addresses the nationwide shortage of nurses and doctors in our VA hospitals, placing our VA hospitals on par with the private sector,” Hartzler added.

This bill allows students who are nearing graduation to apply for positions in the Veterans Health Administration, which streamlines the hiring process and reduces the amount of time potential candidates must wait in order to take a full time job at the VA.  Additionally, the bill requires the VA to offer employment within 75 days if they receive a qualified applicant, further reducing the timeline.   

The VHA currently offers financial incentives through multiple programs such as the Student Loan Repayment Program (SLRP) and the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP). The REHIRE Act promotes the use of these programs, but establishes a minimum obligated service period of no less than three years for recipients of these programs. The bill  outlines additional obligation periods based on the total financial benefit to an employee; specifically, for every $10,000 received, the employee must agree to one year of service. For example, if an employee receives $10,000 in education benefits, their period of obligated service is 3 years. However, if the employee receives $60,000 in benefits, their period of obligated service is 6 years.

The REHIRE Act establishes a minimum two-year period of obligated service for employees receiving bonuses and a proportionate obligated service period equal to one year for every 10 percent of the base pay of the employee. For example, if an employee makes $100,000 and receives a $10,000 bonus, their obligated service is 2 years. However, if the employee receives a $50,000 bonus, their obligated service is five years.