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This is historical material, "frozen in time."
The web site is no longer updated and links to external web sites and some internal pages will not work.
April 30, 1999
BULLETIN NO. 99-03
TO THE HEADS OF EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS AND ESTABLISHMENTS
SUBJECT: Physicians Comparability Allowance Data Reporting Requirements
1. Purpose. This Bulletin, which includes Attachments A through D, provides detailed instructions on data
reporting requirements for the Physicians Comparability Allowance (PCA) program. The Bulletin is
issued pursuant to the 1998 edition of OMB Circular A-11, section 13.2(b)(12).
Collection of the data by OMB is required to monitor government-wide PCA usage, physician
employment, and physician compensation. The data will be used to evaluate the effect of the PCA on
Federal physician recruitment and retention and to issue the 1999 Presidential Report on the Physicians
Comparability Allowance in accordance with the Federal Physicians Comparability Allowance Act of
1978 Extension (P.L. 105-61).
Later this fiscal year, agencies are also required to submit to OMB for approval a complete description
of their plans for implementing the PCA program for fiscal year 2000.
2. Background. On October 10, 1997, the President signed P.L. 105-61, reauthorizing the Federal
Physicians Comparability Allowance until September 30, 2000. This Act extends authority to pay
annual bonuses for Federal physicians serving in areas or specialties with documented recruitment and
retention problems.
Office of Personnel Management (OPM) regulations implementing PCA require OMB approval of
agency plans to pay bonuses. OPM regulations implementing the PCA are published in 5 CFR 595.
OMB is collecting data on PCA program operations, as well as on Federal physician recruitment and
retention. These data help ensure consistent government-wide implementation and also are used to
evaluate the effectiveness of the PCA program.
3. Changes in This Year's Report: Reporting requirements for this year's PCA report are substantially
the same as last year's. However, the report includes three new features that should be noted:
(a) Within PCA reporting agencies, organizational components that employed more than 100 physicians
who received PCA bonuses during FY 1998, are to submit separate reports (Attachment D PCA
worksheets) by component, in addition to a composite report for the Department/agency.
(b) To track PCA trends more effectively, this year's report instructs agencies/components to report
overall separations, accessions, and unfilled positions in terms of as well as by number of physicians.
(c) This year's report also seeks agency/component responses to three questions that deal with PCA
program operations. The questions are listed at the end of the PCA bulletin (Attachment D).
4. Due Dates. Agencies must furnish the requested PCA information for the 1999 Presidential Report by
May 25, 1999.
In addition, agencies are reminded that PCA plan descriptions for FY 2000 must be submitted by
September 10, 1999 in the same format as the FY 1999 PCA plans.
5. Termination Date. This Bulletin will terminate as soon as the requested data have been submitted.
Jacob J. Lew Director
Attachment A
Agencies with currently approved PCA Plans
Department of Defense
Department of Energy
Department of Health and Human Services
Department of Justice
Department of Labor
Department of State
Department of Transportation
Department of Veterans Affairs
Central Intelligence Agency
Environmental Protection Agency
Peace Corps
Social Security Administration
Agencies that have employed or now employ physicians eligible for PCA
Agency for International Development
Department of Agriculture
Department of Treasury
Library of Congress
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Tennessee Valley Authority
United States Soldiers' and Airmen's Home
NOTE: Agencies not listed that employ physicians eligible for PCA are also covered by this Bulletin.
Attachment B
Physicians Comparability Allowance (PCA) Report and Worksheets
Authority.
5 U.S.C. 5948 authorizes payment of the physicians comparability allowance to eligible individuals paid
as physicians under the following pay systems: General Schedule; administratively determined pay for
certain specially qualified scientific or professional personnel; Tennessee Valley Authority Act; Foreign
Service Act; CIA Act; section 121 of title 2 of the Canal Zone Code; or section 2 of the Act of May
29, 1959, relating to the National Security Agency.
P.L. 100-140, the Federal Physicians Comparability Allowance Amendments of 1987, amended 5
U.S.C. 5948 to provide a maximum PCA of $14,000 per year for physicians with less than 24 months'
Federal service, and $20,000 per year for physicians with 24 or more months' Federal service. P.L.
100-140 also allows physician service in the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Public Health
Service Commissioned Corps to be creditable towards 24 months Federal civilian service when
calculating maximum PCA allowance eligibility. P.L. 105-61 reauthorized PCA until September 30,
2000. Public Law 105-266, the Federal Employees Health Care Protection Act of 1998, authorized an
increase in the maximum annual amount of the Physicians' Comparability Allowance from $20,000 to
$30,000.
Executive Order No. 12109 delegates authority granted the President under 5 U.S.C. 5948 to the
Directors of the Office of Personnel Management and the Office of Management and Budget.
5 CFR 595 sets additional requirements for agency implementation of 5 U.S.C. 5948, including agency
reporting requirements.
OMB Circular A-11, 13.2(b)(12), requires agencies to reflect approved plans to pay bonuses in annual
budget estimates in accordance with P.L. 100- 140 and P.L. 105-61.
Coverage.
This Bulletin covers all agencies that employ physicians eligible for PCA. This includes both
agencies with currently approved PCA plans that are eligible to pay PCA bonuses, whether or not they
actually do pay the bonuses, and agencies without approved plans that employ physicians eligible for
PCA. Attachment A lists those agencies that currently have an approved PCA plan, as well as agencies
that do not currently have an approved plan but which are known-to have employed physicians eligible
for PCA based on past experience. Agencies not listed that employ physicians eligible for PCA are still
covered by this Bulletin.
Submission Requirements.
(1) Each agency should review and update the 1998 PCA reporting worksheet submitted by that
agency. (Copies of the 1998 PCA worksheets have been given to the appropriate OMB staff.
Agencies should contact their OMB examiners if they need a copy of the 1998 data.) Please verify that
all FY 1995 - FY 1998 figures in the worksheet are correct The latest corrected data for 1995-1998,
along with estimates for 1999, should be included in the PCA reporting worksheet (Attachment D of
this bulletin). Electronic versions of Attachment D are available from your OMB examiner. More
detailed instructions on how to complete the PCA worksheets are included below.
(2) Review the attached copies of the 1998 Presidential Report on the PCA (Attachment C). Verify
and update the text for your agency that appears in the section entitled "Summary of Agency PCA
Reports," pp. 6 to 11.
(3) Submit the revisions to the 1998 Presidential Report and the updated PCA worksheets to the OMB
examiner responsible for your agency by May 25, 1999.
Information Contact: Inquiries should be addressed to Frank Seidl, telephone (202) 395-5146.
Instructions for Preparing Worksheets
General guidance
The data requested should be supplied for all Federal physicians eligible for PCA, and as a subset, all
Federal physicians actually receiving PCA. Eligibility for PCA is defined in 5 U.S.C. 5948 and 5 CFR
595.
Data for the budget year should be the estimates included in budget formulation where applicable (e.g.,
average PCA per physician, average compensation, etc.) or the agency's best estimate (e.g., number of
accessions anticipated). Agency estimates may simply be the average of the previous fiscal years. All
dollars should be on an obligational basis, and all employment numbers should be on a full-time
equivalent (FTE) basis unless otherwise noted.
Several sections of the worksheet request data by physician category. Some agencies may not employ
physicians in all categories, but complete data should be provided for those physician categories
applicable to the agency.
Definitions-General
Government Physician. 5 U.S.C. 5948(g)(1) defines Government physician as any individual paid as a
physician under the following pay systems: General Schedule; administratively determined pay for
certain specially qualified scientific or professional personnel; Tennessee Valley Authority Act; Foreign
Service Act; CIA Act; section 121 of title 2 of the Canal Zone Code; or section 2 of the Act of May 29, 1959, relating to the National Security Agency.
Creditable Federal Service. For purposes of PCA bonus calculations under 5 U.S.C. 5948, as
amended by P.L. 100-140, creditable federal service includes service as a Government physician in any
of the personnel systems established under authorities listed immediately above, as well as service as a
physician in the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Public Health Service Commissioned Corps.
Definitions-Physician Categories
Category I-Clinical Positions: Positions primarily involving the practice of medicine as a direct service to
patients, including the performance of diagnostic, preventive, or therapeutic services to patients in
hospitals, clinics, public health programs, diagnostic centers, and similar settings.
Category II-Research Positions: Physician positions primarily involving research and investigative
assignments.
Category III-Occupational Health: Physician positions primarily involving the evaluation of physical
fitness, the provision of initial treatment of on-the-job illness or injury, or the performance of
pre-employment examinations, preventive health screening, or fitness-for-duty examinations.
Category IV-Disability Evaluation and Administration of Health and Medical Programs:Subcategory IV A: Physician positions primarily involving disability evaluation.
Subcategory IV B: Physician positions primarily involving the administration of health and medical
programs, including but not limited to a chief of professional services, senior medical officer, or
physician program director position.
Description Worksheets to Be Submitted to OMB
(1) Total Number Employed: The total number of agency physicians eligible for PCA (includes all
eligible physicians, whether or not they actually received PCA bonuses) should be supplied for the fiscal
years 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, and 1999 in Part I. The total number of agency physicians actually
receiving or expected to receive PCA should be supplied for the fiscal years 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998,
and 1999 in Part II. The same data should be provided by physician category for each of the fiscal
years.
(2) Number of Physicians Signing One-Year and Two-Year PCA. Under the PCA program, physicians
may elect to sign a one-year or two-year PCA service agreement. For those physicians actually
receiving or expected to receive PCA (Part II), the number of physicians signing one-year and two-year
agreements should be supplied for each fiscal year.
(3) Average Compensation per Physician: Average annual compensation per physician should exclude
the PCA bonus, but include base pay and all other bonuses (such as recruitment and relocation
bonuses, and retention allowances) and awards. The average compensation for agency physicians
eligible for PCA should be supplied for the fiscal years 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, and 1999 in Part I.
The average compensation for agency physicians actually receiving or expected to receive PCA should
be supplied for the fiscal years 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, and 1999 in Part II. The same data should
also be provided by physician category for each fiscal year.
(4) Average PCA Amount per Physician, by Category: The average annual PCA bonus paid per
physician for all, categories, as well as for each individual category of physician, should be supplied for
each fiscal year in Part II.
(5) Average PCA Amount per Physician, by Length of Service Agreement: The average annual PCA
bonus paid per physician should be supplied for physicians with a one-year service agreement and
two-year service agreement and for each fiscal year in Part III.
(6) Average PCA Amount per Physician, by Length of Federal Service: The average annual PCA
bonus paid per physician with (a) less than two years creditable Federal service, and (b) two or more
years creditable Federal service, should be supplied for each fiscal year in Part II.
(7) Average Number Years Continuous Service: The average number of years of continuous creditable
Federal service as a physician for those eligible (Part I) and actually receiving or expected to receive
PCA (Part II) should be supplied for each fiscal year. The average should be calculated as of the end of
the fiscal year in question (e.g., for an agency with one eligible physician who began Federal service as
a physician under the General Schedule on October 1, 1997, would have one-year creditable Federal
service for purposes of PCA for fiscal year 1999).
(8) Number and Rate of Accessions: The total number of accessions and accession rates for all
physicians (Part I) and for those receiving PCA (Part H) should be supplied for each fiscal year. The
number of accessions by category for each fiscal year should also be supplied. Accession rates are
expressed in percentages as the total number of accessions divided by the total number of physicians
(both those eligible for PCA and those receiving PCA). Accession rates need not be supplied for each
physician category.
(9) Number and Rate of Separations: The total number of separations and separation rates for all
physicians (Part I) and for those receiving PCA (Part II) should be supplied for each fiscal year. The
number of separations by category for each fiscal year should also be supplied. Separation rates are
expressed in percentages as the total number of separations divided by the total number of physicians
(both those eligible for PCA and those receiving PCA). Separation rates need not be supplied for each
physician category.
(10) Number and Rate of Unfilled Full-Time Equivalent Physician Positions: The number should be
equivalent to the total number of physician positions for which the agency has budgeted for the fiscal
year in question less the number of physicians on-board during the fiscal year. For example, the agency
may have budgeted for 12 full-time equivalent physician positions for the prior fiscal year, but had only
9.5 physicians on-board for the entire year (9 physicians on-board the entire year, and one on-board
for six-months of the year). The number of unfilled full-time equivalent physician positions in this case is
equal to 2.5.
The total number for all physicians (Part 1) and for those receiving PCA (Part II) should be supplied for
each fiscal year. The number by category for each fiscal year should also be supplied.
The rates of total unfilled physician positions should be furnished. Using the example in the paragraph
above, the rate of unfilled positions would be 21 percent (or 2.5 unfilled positions divided by 12
positions). Unfilled rates need not be supplied by physician category.
(11) Average Length of Time Physician Positions Remained Unfilled: The time should be reported in
months as of the end of the fiscal year (e.g., as of the end of the prior fiscal year the average length of
time vacant physician positions remained unfilled might be 13 months, and for the current fiscal year it
may have declined to an average of 8 months). Only the time during which the agency was activelysearching for candidates should be counted. The total number for all physicians (Part I) and for those
receiving PCA (Part III) should be supplied for each fiscal year. The number by category for each fiscal
year should also be supplied.
12 - 14. Additional PCA Program Questions. Agency/component responses may be incorporated in
the Attachment D worksheet or, if more convenient, attached separately to the PCA submission.
Attachment C
UNITED STATES
OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20415
OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR
Honorable Newt Gingrich
Speaker of the House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515
Dear Mr. Speaker:
The purpose of this letter is to transmit a report on Physicians Comparability Allowances (PCAs), as
required by section 5948(j) of title 5, United States Code. The report was prepared by the Office of
Management and Budget using data gathered from those agencies with approved plans.
The enclosed report describes which agencies have entered into PCA agreements, the recruiting and
retention problems justifying their use, the number of physicians entering into PCA agreements and the
duration of the agreements, the size of the allowances provided, and the degree to which recruitment
and retention problems are alleviated by the allowance.
Sincerely,
/S/
Janice R. Lachance
Director
Enclosure
Presidential Report on the Physicians Comparability Allowance
Introduction
Public Law 103-114 requires the President to report to Congress on the operation of the Physicians
Comparability Allowance (PCA), including information on:
which agencies use the allowance;
the nature and extent of recruiting and retention problems justifying the use of the allowance by each
agency;
number of physicians with whom agreements were entered into by each agency;
sizeof the allowances and duration of the agreements;
and the degree to which theallowance alleviates recruiting and retention problems.
To prepare this report, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) asked all agencies with PCA-
eligible physicians to provide data on:
number ofphysicians they employ, type of work they do (clinical, research,occupational healthor
disability evaluation), how many am eligible for the allowance and how manyactually receive it,
average compensation(excluding PCA)of physicians receiving and not receiving the allowance, size
of the average PCA, and size of allowances provided to eligible physicians by category of work and
length of PCA agreement,
average numberof years of continuous service per physician, number of accessions and separations
theagency experienced, number of unfilled physician positions and average length of time positions
were vacant;
descriptions of thephysicians' work, and recruiting and retentionproblems justifying payment of
PCA.
Using these data, the report describes the use of PCA by Federal agencies. It also addresses the
Federalphysician recruiting and retention situation and the effectiveness of PCA in improving the
situation.
Background
The Physicians Comparability Allowance authorizes agencies documenting severerecruitment and
retention problem to payan allowance tophysicians up to $14,000 per year for physicianswith less
thantwo years Federal serviceand up to $20,000 for physicians with more than two years of Federal
service. PCA wasoriginally authorized by P.L. 95-603in 1978 (5 U.S.C. 5943)and has been
reauthorized anumber of times, including 1979, 1981, 1983, 1987, 1990, 1993, and 1997. Most of
the reauthorizations were simple extensions of the PCA authority. The1987 reauthorization doubled themaximum allowable PCA to the current levels.
PCA is authorized only to solve severe, documented physician recruitment and retention problems. For
the purpose of this allowance, severe recruitment and retention problems are considered to exist if all of
the following conditions exist: long-lasting position vacancies; high turnover rates in positions requiring
well qualified physicians; applicants do not have the superior qualifications necessary for the position;
and existing vacancies cannot be filled with well qualified candidates without PCA. Some agencies use
alternative programs to improve recruitment and retention of physicians, such as the Title 38 physician
Special Pay authority, that are not covered by this report.
Summary of PCA Usage Throughout the Federal Government
Table 1: Number and Compensation of Federal Physicians Receiving PCA
Federal Physicians Receiving the Physicians Comparability Allowance
Fiscal Years 1994 to 1998
FY 1994
(Actual)
FY 1995
(Actual)
FY 1996
(Actual)
FY1997
(Actual)
FY 1998
(Est.)
Physicians Eligible
2,976
2,917
2,402
2,175
2,149
Physicians Receiving
1,891
2,022
1,841
1,616
1,662
% of Eligible Receiving
64%
69%
77%
74%
77%
Average Compensation of PCA
physicians (PCA excluded)
$83,282
$86,220
$88,767
$90,136
$94,039
Average PCA
$14,127
$14,558
$15,764
$15,924
$15,799
Source: OMB data collection from Federal agencies using PCA. Data for FY 1998 are estimated. Some agencies did not
provide all of the requested data.
As of FY 1997, the last year for which we have complete data, 1,616 physicians in Federal
employment received PCA, out of 2,175 who were eligible. This means that 74 percent of all eligible
physicians received PCA. The average compensation in FY 1997 (excluding the PCA) of those federal
physicians receiving PCA totaled $90,136 while the average PCA paid was $15, 924. The largest
users of PCA were the Department of Health and Human Services, which gave PCA to 808 physicians,
and the Department of Defense, which gave PCA to 467 physicians.
The recruiting and retention problems that justify the allowance vary widely. Some agencies require
physicians with special expertise such as aeronautics or agriculture. Other agencies require physicians to
live and work in remote areas. Still other agencies suffer difficulties because local non-Federal
competition for physicians have driven salaries past the standard government pay scale.
The number of physicians eligible for PCA has declined from FY 1994 through FY 1997. In FY 1994,
there were 2,976 physicians eligible for PCA, and in FY 1997 that number dropped to 2,175
physicians eligible for PCA. The percentage of physicians receiving PCA has risen from FY 1994 to
FY 1996, but declined in FY 1997 by three percentage points. Estimates for FY 1999 indicate that the
percentage of physicians receiving PCA will once again increase.
The average compensation (excluding PCA) for physicians receiving PCA has consistently increased
over the years, from $83,282 in FY 1994 to $90, 136 in FY 1997. Additionally, the average PCA has
increased from FY 1994 to FY 1997 from $14,127 to $15,924. ON average, PCA represents 17 to
18 percent of the average compensation (excluding the PCA) of physicians receiving PCA.
Table 2: Data on Number and Compensation of Federal Physicians by Length of Agreement
Physicians Signing One-Year and Two-Year PCA Agreements
Fiscal Years 1994 to 1998
FY 1994
(Actual)
FY 1995
(Actual)
FY 1996
(Actual)
FY1997
(Actual)
FY 1998
(Est.)
Signing One-Year
Agreements
Physicians
175
275
221
218
110
Average PCA
$10,814
$10,129
$11,892
$14,448
$11,811
Signing Two-Year
Agreements
Physicians
1,673
1,679
1,614
1,392
1,551
Average PCA
$15,718
$16,534
$16,982
$16,229
$15,948
Source: OMB data collection from Federal agencies using PCA. Data from FY 1998 are estimated. Some agencies did not
provide all of the requested data.
Most of the use of PCA has been among physicians signing two-tear agreements. In any given year, the
amount of two-year agreements represents from 86 percent to 91 percent of the total number of
agreements being made (excluding FY 1998 estimates). From FY 1995 to FY 1997, the number of
one-year and two-year contracts steadily declined. Particularly, the number of two-year contracts being
signed decreased significantly from 1996 to 1997 from 1,614 to 1,392, a change of 14 percent. This
occurred primarily as a result of an increase in the use of other pay authorities by HHS (the largest user
of PCA). FY 1998 estimates predict a 50 percent decrease in the number of one-year agreements and
a 10 percent increase in the number of two-year agreements.
Table 3: Data on Accessions, Separations, and Vacancies in Positions Eligible for or Receiving PCA
Federal Physicians Accession, Separation, and Unfilled Positions
Fiscal Years 1994 to 1998
FY 1994
(Actual)
FY 1995
(Actual)
FY 1996
(Actual)
FY 1997
(Actual)
FY 1998
(Est.)
Number of Physicians Eligible
2,976
2,917
2,402
2,175
2,140
Number of Physicians Receiving
1,891
2,022
1,841
1,616
1,662
% of Eligible Receiving PCA
64%
69%
77%
74%
77%
Accession
Among Eligible
686
562
565
316
250
% of Eligible
23%
19%
24%
15%
12%
Among PCA
211
294
327
174
191
% of PCA
11%
15%
18%
11%
11%
Separations
Among Eligible
583
674
629
163
158
% of Eligible
20%
23%
26%
7%
7%
Among PCA
103
219
324
123
130
% of PCA
9%
11%
18%
8%
8%
Unfilled
Positions
Among Eligible
560
266
288
258
308
% of Eligible
19%
9%
12%
12%
14%
Among PCA
323
217
209
164
202
% of PCA
17%
11%
11%
10%
12%
Source: OMB data collection from Federal agencies using PCA. Data from FY 1998 are estimated. Some agencies did not
provide all of the requested data.
The data on personnel activity show that the number of accessions overall is decreasing. The amount of
accessions tends to be higher in the aggregate category of all physicians eligible (which includes both
physicians receiving and not receiving PCA) than in the category for physicians receiving PCA.
however, the difference in percentage points between the two categories has decreased since FY 1994.
The turnover rate among physicians receiving PCA has generally been lower, specifically from FY 1994
to FY 1996. However, in FY 1997, the turnover rate for physicians receiving PCA was slightly higher
than the rate for physicians eligible for PCA. FY 1998 estimates continue this trend.
The percentage of PCA-eligible positions that were unfilled fell from 19% in FY 1994 to 9% in FY
1995, but is now on an upward trend. The percentage rose to 12% in FY 1996, continued at that level
in FY 1997, and is estimated to increase to 14% in FY 1998. The decrease in the number of vacant
positions in FY 1995 was more the result of Federal government downsizing than an actual increase in
positions filled. Overall, the percentage of unfilled position is lower for those physicians receiving PCA.
National Physician Supply and Salary
ln 1996, of the 665,254professionally active physicians in theUnited States, 20,429 were in federal
service.1/ Of those 20,429
federal physicians, the highest concentration is located in the specialty
areas of Internal Medicine and Family Practice.2/
Although conclusive data comparing total private and federal physician pay by specialty is unavailable,
some information with regards to average net income of physicians is provided below.
For all physicians professionally active in the United States, the average net income (after expenses and
before taxes) earned in 1996 totaled $199,000. The median net income amounted to $166,000 and
pr esented a 3.8 percent increase from the previous year.3/
Summary - Effectiveness of PCA
Overall, the data demonstrate that PCA contributes to improved recruitment and retention of Federal
physicians. Over the past several years, three-fourths of all eligible physicians have chosen to receive
PCA. Particularly, the data show that the percentage of unfilled positions is generally lower for the
category of physicians receiving PCA. However, the data also demonstrate that there are other factors
outside PCA that have an impact on physicians' decisions to enter Federal service, and therefore on
their recruitment and retention. For example, the higher percentage of accessions among physicians
eligible for but not receiving PCA demonstrates that physicians choose to enter into Federal service
even when not receiving PCA.
As the narratives provided on the following pages indicate, Federal agencies employ physicians in a
wide variety of geographic areas to serve multiple functions. This diversity presents numerous challenges
and opportunities to Federal policy for the recruitment and retention of physicians. PCA is one of many
methods used by Federal agencies to address these recruitment and retention challenges.
1. American Medical Association, Physician Characteristics and Distribution in the US, 1997-98 Edition.
3. American Medical Association, as cited by: Mary Chris Jakievic, Modern Healthcare, March 30, 1998.
Summary of Agency PCA Reports
Agencies with PCA Eligible Physicians
Executive Order No. 12109, signed on December 28, 1978, delegates PCA authority granted to the
President under 5 U.S.C. 5948 to the Directors of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and
the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). The following agencies employ physicians eligible for
PCA (listed in descending order of number of physicians receiving PCA in FY 1997):
Department of Health and Human Services
Department of Justice
Department of State
Department of Transportation
Central Intelligence Agency
Department of Labor
Armed Forces Retirement Home
Environmental Protection Agency
U.S. Agency for International Development
Social Security Administration
Department of Veterans Affairs
Department of Energy
Department of Agriculture
Library of Congress
Department of the Treasury
NASA
Tennessee Valley Authority
Summary descriptions of each agency's use of PCA:
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
HHS employs the largest number of physicians eligible for and receiving PCA. Physicians perform a
variety of tasks and possess skills of considerable value outside Federal employment. For example, theNational Institutes of Health, "a worldwide leader in biomedical research" must compete with the
academic community to recruit physicians with outstanding research competence. Likewise the Food
and Drug Administration must compete with pharmaceutical companies for physicians qualified to
support the regulation of food, prescription and over the counter drugs, and medical devices.
Additionally, the Indian Health Service provides clinical care to a large population, much of which is
scattered over long distances in remote areas.
In 1997, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) provided PCA to 808 out of 1,138
eligible physicians. HHS attributes the decline in the number of physicians receiving PCA in FY 1997 to
the increased use of other pay authorities, such as Physicians Special Pay under Title 38. The average
allowance was $17, 469, and the average compensation (not including the allowance) of physicians
receiving PCA was $95, 270. Among physicians receiving PCA, HHS had 84 accessions, 54
separations, and 111 unfilled positions. The average length of vacancy was six months.
Department of Defense
In FY 1997, the Department of Defense provided PCA to 467 physicians out of 635 eligible
physicians. The average allowance was $12,575 and the average compensation (not including the
allowance) of physicians receiving PCA was $77,270. In the same year the Department had 38
accessions, 56 separations, and 23 unfilled positions. While the Department of Defense did not report
the average length of vacancy, this time varied from 3 months to 2 years.
Department of Justice
The Bureau of Prisons employs physicians to provide health care services to inmates. These physicians
work under difficult conditions such as rigid work schedules and environments, close contact with a
potentially dangerous and violent population, increased exposure to infectious disease, and negative
public perception of correctional work.
In FY 1997, Justice provided PCA to 192 physicians out of 203 eligible. The average allowance was
$16,200 and the average compensation (not including the allowance) of physicians receiving PCA was
$97,000. The Bureau had 42 accessions, 39 unfilled positions, and no separations in FY 1997.
Department of State
State Department physicians working overseas advise diplomatic staff on foreign policy questions
having medical importance, provide medical care for American employees and their dependents,
provide emergency medical support to foreign posts, monitor quality of care in embassy health units,
and maintain liaison with local physicians, hospitals and public health officials. Physicians working at
headquarters oversee the State Department's Medical Program, determine medical clearances,
coordinate and oversee medical evacuations, and provide occupational health services to headquarters
employees. According to the State Department, recruiting and retaining physicians is difficult because
"government service overseas, with it's disruptive elements, threats of personal security, separation from
family, reduction in income, and intellectual and professional isolation, is an unattractive option for most
experienced physicians."
In FY 1997, the Department of State provided PCA to 49 physicians out of 52 eligible. The average
allowance was $18, 224, and the average compensation (not including the allowance) of physicians
receiving PCA was $97, 816. In the same year, the Department had six accessions, four separations,
and three unfilled positions. The average length of vacancy was five months.
Department of Transportation
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) provides a wide range of medical, research, and safety
programs to support safety in civil aviation. According to FAA, experienced physicians are extremely
valuable because the agency has focused its resources on fewer, highly qualified physicians. Even with
the PCA, insufficient compensation continues to be the principal source of physician dissatisfaction.
FAA states that the success it has had in retaining physicians is primarily due to their personal interestin
aviation and a sense of public service, but without PCA, the difference in salary rates could negate these
other considerations.
In FY 1997, the Department of Transportation provided PCA to all of the 37 eligible physicians. The
average allowance was $18,205 and the average compensation of physicians (not including the
allowance) was $87,810.
Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)
CIA reports that it requires PCA pay to attract and retain physicians because of specialized security
and travel requirements. In FY 1997, CIA paid PCA to all of its eligible physicians. The average was
$18,096 and the average non-PCA compensation of the physicians receiving it was $99,544. Of the
physicians receiving PCAs, CIA reported 5 accessions, 4 separations, and 9 unfilled positions in FY
1997.
Department of Labor (DOL)
The Department of Labor uses PCA in hiring physicians for the Office of Workers' Compensation
Programs (OWCP). Because of OWCP's unique requirements, it has been difficult to recruit physicians
who are qualified and interested in this type of work. The Occupational Safety and Health
Administration (OSHA) and the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) also use PCA
agreements to attract and retain physicians needed to provide medical and epidemiological expertise in
clinical investigations.
In its efforts to obtain qualified physicians, DOL has contracted such organizations as the American
Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, local chapters of the American Medical Association, and several
medical schools. Most physicians contacted through these means have declined employment, citing low
salary as the main reason for their disinterest. In many instances, the expected salaries of these
physicians are one and a half to two times higher than the rate for GS-14, step 1.
In FY 1997, the Department of Labor provided PCA to nine out of 13 eligible DOL physicians. The
average allowance paid was $15,444, and the average compensation (not including the allowance) was
$89,373. In FY 1997, the Department had four separations, and two unfilled positions.
Armed Forces Retirement Homes
The Armed Forces Retirement Homes (AFRH) consist of the United States Naval Home (USNH) and
the U.S. Soldiers' and Airmen's Home (USSAH). In FY 1997 the Armed Forces Retirement Homes
had nine physicians eligible for PCA. Of these, six physicians received PCA. The USSAH reports that
it must offer PCA to attract specialists in the competitive and expensive Washington area. AFRH had
one separation and no accessions in FY 1997.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
In FY 1997, the Environmental Protection Agency provided PCA to all six of its eligible physicians. The
average allowance was $15,583 and the average compensation (not including the allowance) of
physicians receiving PCA was $85,581. EPA reported no accessions and one separation in FY 1997.
U.S. Agency for International Development (AID)
According to AID, one of the reasons for its difficulty in recruiting physicians is the agency's need for
physicians with highly specialized skills. Specific expertise is required in areas such as epidemiology,
preventive medicine, international health, tropical medicine, and infectious disease. These technical skills
often must be combined with management/administrative skills and a knowledge of international
development, as well as interpersonal skills and stature to interact with developing-country colleagues.
According to AID, the agency is at a serious financial disadvantage in competing for such physicians
compared to international agencies such as the World Health Organization.
With so few physicians working for AID, the workload is especially demanding and difficulty in retaining
staff is directly related to demands made on AID physicians.
ln FY 1997, AID provided allowances to all seven eligible physicians. The average allowance was
$19,142, and the average compensation (not including the allowance) of physicians receiving PCA was
$87,078. In FY 1997, AID had one accession, one separation, and one unfilled position; the average
length of vacancy for physician positions was five months.
Social Security Administration (SSA)
Social Security Administration physicians receiving PCA are medical specialists who establish the
medical criteria used to evaluate the severity of medical impairments of applicants for and beneficiaries
of payments under the disability program administered by SSA. The specialists conduct studies, keep
abreast of modern medicine and interface with the medical community to ensure that the medical criteria
of the SSA disability program reflect the latest advances in medicine. Without PCA, SSA would not be
able to recruit and retain qualified physicians (who must be American Board Certified and experienced
in their specialties) since physicians are not attracted to administrative medicine, especially in SSA
where doctors are not integrated into academic, research or clinical fields.
In FY 1997, SSA provided PCA to five out of eight eligible physicians. The average allowance was
$15,000, and the average compensation (not including the allowance) for physicians receiving PCA was
$98,207. SSA had no separations and no accessions or unfilled positions in FY 1997.
Department of Veterans Affairs
While physicians working in Veterans hospitals are paid in a separate pay system, the Department does
employ some physicians who are paid according to the General Schedule. These physicians may be
eligible for PCA. In FY 1997, the Department of Veterans Affairs provided PCA to both of its eligible
physicians. The average allowance was $20,000, and the average compensation (not including the
allowance) was $112,069. In FY 1997, the Department had no separations or accessions.
Department of Energy
The Department of Energy provided PCA to one of its four eligible physicians in FY 1997. The PCA
compensation was $20,000 and the compensation (not including the allowance) for the physician
receiving PCA was $92,142. The Department had one accession, one separation, and two unfilled
positions for FY 1997.
Department of Agriculture (USDA)
USDA employs one physician in the Agricultural Research Service. According to USDA, the
Department has had difficulty filling this post in the past because it requires a physician who is also a
human nutrition researcher. Qualified applicants often are not willing to relocate to the USDA facility in
North Dakota. In addition, the University of North Dakota, the chief competitor for physicians and
researchers in this area, pays salaries considerably higher than the GS-15 salary for this position.
In FY 1997, USDA paid an allowance of $20,000 to the physician, whose other compensation was
$96,167. USDA had no separations and no unfilled positions in FY 1997.
Library of Congress
In FY 1997 the Library of Congress employed one physician eligible for PCA, but did not provide
PCA.
Department of the Treasury
In FY 1997 the Department of the Treasury employed one physician eligible for PCA, but did not
provide PCA.
NASA
NASA is not participating currently in the PCA program. In FY 1997 NASA employed 27 physicians
eligible for PCA and had one unfilled position. NASA did not provide PCA to any physicians.
Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA)
ln FY 1997 TVA employed four PCA-eligible physicians but did not provide PCA.
3) Average Compensation per
Physician (Excluding PCA)
Category I
Category II
Category III
Category IV-A
Category IV-B
Average Compensation
FY95 FY96 FY97 FY98 FY99
FY95 FY96 FY97 FY98 FY99
4) Average PCA Amount per
Physician
Category I
Category II
Category III
Category IV-A
Category IV-B
Average PCA Amount
FY95 FY96 FY97 FY98 FY99
FY95 FY96 FY97 FY98 FY99
5) Average PCA Amount per
Physician Signing:
One-Year PCA
Two-Year PCA
FY95 FY96 FY97 FY98 FY99
FY95 FY96 FY97 FY98 FY99
6) Average PCA Amount per
Physician with Federal Service
of:
Less than Two Years
Two or More Years
FY95 FY96 FY97 FY98 FY99
FY95 FY96 FY97 FY98 FY99
7) Average Number of Years
Continuous Service per
Physician
FY95 FY96 FY97 FY98 FY99
FY95 FY96 FY97 FY98 FY99
8) Number and Rate of
Accession
Category I
Category II
Category III
Category IV-A
Category IV-B
Total Number of Accessions
Accession Rate (for all
categories in %)
FY95 FY96 FY97 FY98 FY99
FY95 FY96 FY97 FY98 FY99
9) Number and Rate of
Separation
Category I
Category II
Category III
Category IV-A
Category IV-B
Total Number of Separations
Separation Rate (for all
categories as %)
FY95 FY96 FY97 FY98 FY99
FY95 FY96 FY97 FY98 FY99
10) Number an Rate of Unfilled
FTEs:
Category I
Category II
Category III
Category IV-A
Category IV-B
Total Unfilled FTEs
Unfilled FTE Rate (for all
categories as %)
FY95 FY96 FY97 FY98 FY99
FY95 FY96 FY97 FY98 FY99
11) Average Length of Time
(months) Physician Position
Vacant
Additional PCA Program Questions:
12) Are physician salary surveys (internal agency, Federal/state/local, or private) used by your agency
to help determine who receives PCA bonuses and at what levels, compared to the pay offered by your
competitors? If so, please briefly describe the surveys used.
13) How many physicians receiving PCA in FY 1997 and FY 1998, also received recruitment bonuses,
relocation bonuses, or retention allowances? Please include the number receiving each of these three
bonuses/allowances, as well as the average amounts paid for each in FY 1997 and FY 1998.
14) Of the total physicians receiving PCA in FY 1997 and FY 1998, how many are dentists? What
was the average PCA provided to dentists in both years?
