OP RESPONSES TO THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION'S 'SUPPLEMENTARY QUESTIONS' RELATIVE TO THE DRAFT COMPREHENSIVE PHYSICIANS PAY BILL AND COMMENTS ON THE BILL PROPER

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP81M00980R001800050075-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 16, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 21, 2004
• Sequence Number: 75
• Publication Date: April 13, 1978
• Content Type: MF

Approved For Relea
13 April 1978
Office of LegislatNT-Go--unsel
: Deputy Director of Personnel
Deputy Director o Personnel
for Plans and Control
SUBJECT : OP Responses to the Civil Service Commission's
"Supplementary Questions" Relative to the
Draft Comprehensive Physicians Pay Bill and
Comments on the Bill Proper
Since CIA has a-very limited number of Physicians, and since
many of OMB's questions are directed to organizations with large
medical complements, we are responding only to those questions which
we feel have significance for our organization.
Response to Question 1
The Agency has 25 physician positions. Patient care
responsibility would be at the overseas posts where the doctor
provides such services; however, it is suggested OMS provide the
breakout of the number of doctors who have patient care responsi-
bilities, viz health care responsibilities such as physical
examinations, emergency treatment or administrative functions.
Response to Question 2
The Office of Medical Services indicates that they have been
experiencing problems in the recruitment of physicians. We shall
yield to them in articulating the specifics of the problem.
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Response to Questions 3 and 4
We defer to the Office of Medical Services for a comprehensive
response to these questions.
Response Response to question 5
Establishing a'Federal compensation system for a single
occupation for which pay is based on the income in the private
sector for that occupation would certainly be precedent setting.
While the government's current problem is obtaining doctors to
provide patient care in VA hospitals and in the military services,
there could well be future problems with obtaining and retaining the
services of lawyers, engineers, or whatever discipline or profession
comes up in short supply and consequent higher private sector
salaries or income.
Response toestion 6toestion 6
To base compensation of salaried Federal physicians on the
compensation of non-Federal physicians would require evaluating the
benefits of Federal employment . . . retirement plans, paid leave,
security of position, specialized training, sabbaticals, and medical
malpractice protection. How would the salary level be decided . . .
physician income varies from generalist to specialist field to other
specialist fields, geographic area, et al. To take the average might
well deprive the specialist; to take the high side would overpay the
non-specialist.
Response Response toestion 7
A pay scale for a group of employees which could exceed the
salary level of the head of the sub-organization responsible for
administration of the medical facilities and services should be
carefully considered. Granting the government may need to develop
a program to attract medical personnel.for needed services, the bonus
system would probably be less disruptive of the hierarchical
relationships within an agency. Either a different salary scale or
a bonus system would certainly set a.precedent for subsequent
professions employed in the Federal Service.
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Response to Question 8
We have no comment on the advantages or disadvantages of
including PHS commissioned corps in a Federal civilian compensation
plan. If there is difficulty in obtaining the services of physicians
for other Government agencies, it would appear there would be equal
difficulty in obtaining them for the PHS corps.
If "the same personnel system" means agencies would obtain
their doctors through a central system, CIA would have the usual
problems of security, and would undoubtedly have to request an
exemption from being included in such personnel system, albeit
"adopting" the salary scale or bonus system for the doctors employed
here.
Response to Question 9
Annually adjusted "pay levels" (bonuses) would be far less
disruptive than a statutory change in the basic pay system and
should help alleviate the current recruitment and retention problem.
Commentslon the Bill
If all physicians employed by the Government are to be included
in the Comprehensive Physicians Pay Bill, we would fully support
inclusion of CIA's Physicians in the coverage.
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