VA COMPETES Act

The VA COMPETES Act modifies compensation rules for VA physicians, podiatrists, optometrists, and dentists by establishing a "market pay" system that adjusts based on performance and local labor market conditions. It allows the VA Secretary to waive standard pay limits for recruitment and retention of critical healthcare staff, with a cap of 300 waivers annually and a 5-year termination date for this authority. The bill requires annual reports to Congress on pay evaluations, market adjustments, and waiver usage, including detailed information on affected specialties and facilities. It also includes retroactive compensation provisions for certain employees from 2006-2017 who were affected by previous pay caps.