VAMC Physician and Dentist Pay

VAMC Physician and Dentist Pay January 2006

New pay system is effective January 8, 2006.

Three components to new pay system: 1. Base pay Tiers: Staff Service Chiefs Network –level program manager and or Network supervisor National program responsibilities

2. Market pay—market pay is recommended by a Compensation Panel and is based on the level of experience a physician has in the specialty, the need for the specialty assignment, the health care labor market, board certifications, accomplishments of the physician in the specialty assignment and prior experience, if any. Market pay for each physician will be reviewed at least every 24 months by the Compensation Panel.

3. Performance pay—The amount will be determined by the Compensation Panel. Each physician is reviewed on a fiscal year basis. (Note: The VA’s fiscal year is October 1 thru September 30.) The amount payable may not exceed the lower of $15,000 or the amount that is equal to 7.5% of the annual pay in effect for the physician on September 30 of the fiscal year during the period of time under review. Performance pay will be issued in one lump payment. [Annual Pay at the VA refers to: “The sum of base pay rate and market pay.” This is the figure used to compute civil service retirement benefits, life insurance, work injury compensation claims and severance pay.]

This new pay systems eliminates the special pay (or bonus pay) agreements.

Base and Longevity Pay Schedule: A table consisting of 15 rates of base pay, designated as steps 1 through 15. Physicians and dentists advance on the table at the rate of one step for every 2 years of VA service (104 weeks of service = 2 years). [See Base and Longevity Pay Schedule table] The longevity step advance increase will be effective on the first day of the pay period following completion of the required waiting period. (Note a pay period for the VA is every two weeks.)

In order to assign the base pay rate the VA is loading the hire dates into a program. If the physician disputes the date utilized he/she can request a review.

All physicians will have their compensation reviewed by a “Compensation Panel.” All reviews are supposed to be done by April 7, 2006. VAMC Physician and Dentist Pay (Continued) January 2006

Until the reviews are complete the physicians and dentists will continue to receive the same rate of pay they have been receiving. No one should receive less pay than they have previously.

New hires at the VA will receive base pay only until the Compensation Panel meets to review the market rate. The Compensation Panel is supposed to meet within 30 days of the hire. Once the market rate is established the increase in annual pay rate will be retroactive to the hire date.

Notification to UCSD may be done via a copy of the SF-50 Form, Notification of Personnel Action.

K:\VA\Summary VAMC Physician & Dentist Pay.doc (1/9/06)