Congress·In Committee·S. 3771

Veterans Affairs: Pay Raises for Medical Physicists

Department of Veterans Affairs Therapeutic Medical Physicist Pay Cap Relief Act of 2026

Legislative Progress

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This bill changes how the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) hires and pays medical physicists. These specialists are essential for veterans receiving radiation therapy for cancer or advanced medical imaging like MRIs and CT scans.
The plan moves these physicists into the same high-level pay category as VA doctors and dentists. This removes current pay caps, making it easier for the VA to compete with private hospitals for top talent.
To get these jobs, physicists would be required to complete advanced clinical training and earn professional board certification. This ensures that veterans are treated by experts who meet the highest national standards.
The goal is to fix staffing shortages in VA radiation and imaging departments. Better pay and clear career paths are expected to help the VA hire more specialists, which could reduce wait times for life-saving treatments.
Within one year of the bill becoming law, the VA must give Congress a report on how the pay changes affected hiring and what the total cost was to the government.

2 milestones2 actions

Feb 4, 2026Senate

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

Feb 4, 2026

Introduced in Senate

1 bill

Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Physicist Pay Cap Relief Act

Jun 6 — Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Document Type

Congressional Bill

Official Title

Department of Veterans Affairs Therapeutic Medical Physicist Pay Cap Relief Act of 2026

Bill NumberS 3771

Congress119th Congress

ChamberSenate

Latest ActionRead twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

(1)

R: 1

Congress.gov

Official legislative information

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