AAPM&R Opposes VA Efforts Regarding Scope of Practice

July 29, 2021

The AMA invited us to co-sign the attached letter opposing the Department of Veterans Affairs efforts to develop National Standards of Practice for 48 healthcare occupations. The AMA raised concerns that the standards would preempt state and local scope of practice laws which could enable nurses, physician assistants, and other non-physicians to provide services and perform procedures that are outside the scope of their knowledge and licensure. The AMA letter called out the VA for not providing a transparent process and ability for stakeholders to provide input on the standards and also calls into question the feasibility of developing a single National Standard of Practice for all VA-employed physicians.

As additional information, the letter references the Interim Final Rule (IFR) on “Authority of VA Professionals to Practice Health Care” that was released last year to allow non-physician providers to practice without the clinical supervision of a physician. In January, AAPM&R signed on to an AMA letter opposing that IFR. Our signature on the attached letter maintains a consistent position opposing the VA’s implementation of current plans.