What Does NAVAPD Do? Your Questions Answered
Understanding how NAVAPD advocates for VA physicians and dentists, supports fair compensation, and helps shape policies affecting veteran healthcare.
Physicians and dentists within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) play a critical role in delivering high-quality healthcare to our nation's veterans. But who advocates for the professionals providing that care?
The National Association of VA Physicians and Dentists (NAVAPD) works to ensure the voices of VA physicians and dentists are heard on issues affecting their profession, their workplace, and the veterans they serve.
We frequently receive questions about what NAVAPD does, how we advocate for our members, and where our responsibilities begin and end. Here are answers to some of the most common questions.
What Is NAVAPD, and What Does It Do?
NAVAPD is a professional association dedicated to representing the professional interests of physicians and dentists working within the VA healthcare system.
Our mission focuses on three priorities:
Improving patient care: Advocating for policies that support the delivery of world-class healthcare to our nation's veterans.
Strengthening the doctor-patient relationship: Promoting an environment where physicians and dentists can focus on their patients and provide the care veterans deserve.
Supporting VA physicians and dentists: Ensuring their professional perspectives are considered in decisions affecting VA healthcare.
Through advocacy, professional engagement, and communication with policymakers, NAVAPD works to strengthen both the VA healthcare workforce and the quality of care provided to veterans.
Can NAVAPD Represent Me in a Disciplinary or HR Matter?
NAVAPD is a professional association, not a labor union, and does not have collective bargaining rights.
If you are facing disciplinary action, an employment dispute, or another HR-related matter, we recommend contacting the union representing employees at your VA medical center, such as the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) or the National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE), as applicable.
These organizations have collective bargaining rights and may be able to provide representation or assistance in employment-related matters.
While NAVAPD does not provide individual union representation, we continue to advocate on broader professional and workplace issues affecting VA physicians and dentists.
What Is NAVAPD Doing to Advocate for Better Physician and Dentist Compensation?
Recruiting and retaining highly qualified physicians and dentists is essential to maintaining a strong VA healthcare system. Competitive compensation is an important part of that effort.
NAVAPD has a history of advocating for improvements to the VA physician and dentist compensation system.
Our organization played an instrumental role in changes that established the current three-tier pay structure, including the addition of performance-based pay (P4P).
Today, our advocacy continues through:
Congressional engagement: Communicating compensation concerns to congressional stakeholders involved in VA policy and oversight.
Pay system recommendations: Providing feedback to VA Workforce Management during its twice-yearly requests for input on the physician and dentist pay structure.
Ongoing advocacy: Identifying opportunities to make VA compensation more competitive with the private sector and better support recruitment and retention.
NAVAPD remains committed to ensuring that physician and dentist compensation receives attention from VA leadership and federal policymakers.
How Does NAVAPD Influence Legislation Affecting VA Healthcare?
Decisions made in Congress can directly affect VA physicians, dentists, and the veterans who depend on their care.
NAVAPD regularly reviews proposed federal legislation that could affect the VA healthcare system, its medical professionals, or patient care.
When legislation raises important concerns or presents opportunities for improvement, NAVAPD may respond independently or collaborate with other professional associations.
One important way we communicate our positions is through Statements for the Record, which are submitted to Congress for inclusion in the official record of relevant hearings.
These statements allow NAVAPD to communicate the perspectives of VA physicians and dentists directly to lawmakers considering policies that may affect the future of veteran healthcare.
Why NAVAPD Membership Matters
Effective advocacy depends on informed, engaged professionals who understand the challenges facing VA healthcare.
NAVAPD provides a professional voice for physicians and dentists on issues that extend beyond any individual medical center, including compensation, workforce policies, federal legislation, and the quality of veteran care.
When VA physicians and dentists have a stronger voice, the entire VA healthcare system benefits.
Whether you are a current member or considering joining, your participation helps support our ongoing efforts to advocate for the professionals who care for America's veterans.
