Lawmakers Wonder Why VA Doctors Haven’t Received Raises

During the Biden Administration, lawmakers signed the Dole Act into law, giving the VA the legal authority to increase its doctors’ wages by a significant degree. Years later, the VA has yet to take any real steps toward exercising this authority. Wages for VA doctors remain capped, and this is causing lawmakers to publicly question the delay. If you are struggling to access VA disability benefits in Washington, consider speaking with an experienced attorney.

What Is the Dole Act? 

The Elizabeth Dole Home Care Act of 2023 (also known simply as the “Dole Act”) was passed by President Biden just before he left office. Its goal is to improve healthcare resources for veterans, and while its changes were complex and far-reaching, one of its most notable achievements was to create “waivers” for the normal doctor pay cap under the VA.

The goal of these waivers was to recruit new doctors or to keep doctors who might otherwise be tempted by higher pay elsewhere. Normally, the doctor pay cap in the VA is $400,000. There is a limited number of these waivers available under the Dole Act. In addition, this bill allowed the VA to start paying doctors retroactive pay that they would have earned despite reaching their $400,000 per year limit. For example, a doctor might have “earned” $425,000 by picking up extra hours one year. In this situation, the VA would have the authority to pay that doctor the extra $25,000 that they were previously denied due to the pay cap.

Why Has the VA Failed to Increase Doctor Pay?

The VA says that it is still trying to figure out how to implement these waivers. Apparently, some kind of internal dispute is slowing this process down, something that lawmakers have become frustrated about. This situation is becoming particularly dire as numerous doctors leave the VA entirely, presumably seeking higher pay elsewhere. According to Government Executive, 3,300 physicians have left the VA within the past 15 months (as of April 2026). 2,200 physicians have joined the organization over the same period.

Both Republicans and Democrats seem incensed by this lack of action on the part of the VA. In response to these attacks, the VA has assured Congress that it will implement the pay increases in due time. VA representatives have also argued that more employees do not necessarily equate to better health outcomes for veterans.

Can a VA Disability Benefits Lawyer Help Me?

A VA disability benefits lawyer in Washington may be able to help if you’re struggling to get the treatment you need. The fact that the VA has been slow to increase its doctors’ wages may make this line of work less attractive to healthcare providers. This in turn may make it more challenging for veterans to access treatment. To explore this topic in more detail, consider contacting Gustad Law Group, PLLC. We serve veterans in Seattle, Spokane, and Tacoma.

Sources: 

va.gov/VAPUBS/viewPublication.asp?Pub_ID=1674&FType=2

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