Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 118.djvu/2667

 118 STAT. 2637 PUBLIC LAW 108–445—DEC. 3, 2004 ‘‘(b) BASE PAY.—One element of pay for physicians and dentists shall be base pay. Base pay shall meet the following requirements: ‘‘(1) Each physician and dentist is entitled to base pay determined under the Physician and Dentist Base and Lon gevity Pay Schedule. ‘‘(2) The Physician and Dentist Base and Longevity Pay Schedule is composed of 15 rates of base pay designated, from the lowest rate of pay to the highest rate of pay, as base pay steps 1 through 15. ‘‘(3) The rate of base pay payable to a physician or dentist is based on the total number of the years of the service of the physician or dentist in the Veterans Health Administration as follows: ‘‘For a physician or dentist The rate of base pay is with total service of: the rate payable for: two years or less ............................................................................... step 1 more than 2 years and not more than 4 years .............................. step 2 more than 4 years and not more than 6 years .............................. step 3 more than 6 years and not more than 8 years .............................. step 4 more than 8 years and not more than 10 years ............................ step 5 more than 10 years and not more than 12 years .......................... step 6 more than 12 years and not more than 14 years .......................... step 7 more than 14 years and not more than 16 years .......................... step 8 more than 16 years and not more than 18 years .......................... step 9 more than 18 years and not more than 20 years .......................... step 10 more than 20 years and not more than 22 years .......................... step 11 more than 22 years and not more than 24 years .......................... step 12 more than 24 years and not more than 26 years .......................... step 13 more than 26 years and not more than 28 years .......................... step 14 more than 28 years .......................................................................... step 15. ‘‘(4) At the same time as rates of basic pay are increased for a year under section 5303 of title 5, the Secretary shall increase the amount of base pay payable under this subsection for that year by a percentage equal to the percentage by which rates of basic pay are increased under such section for that year. ‘‘(c) MARKET PAY.—One element of pay for physicians and den tists shall be market pay. Market pay shall meet the following requirements: ‘‘(1) Each physician and dentist is eligible for market pay. ‘‘(2) Market pay shall consist of pay intended to reflect the recruitment and retention needs for the specialty or assign ment (as defined by the Secretary) of a particular physician or dentist in a facility of the Department of Veterans Affairs. ‘‘(3) The annual amount of the market pay payable to a physician or dentist shall be determined by the Secretary on a case by case basis. ‘‘(4)(A) In determining the amount of market pay for physi cians or dentists, the Secretary shall consult two or more national surveys of pay for physicians or dentists, as applicable, whether prepared by private, public, or quasi public entities in order to make a general assessment of the range of pays payable to physicians or dentists, as applicable. ‘‘(B)(i) In determining the amount of the market pay for a particular physician or dentist under this subsection, and in determining a tier (if any) to apply to a physician or dentist under subsection (e)(1)(B), the Secretary shall consult with

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