S. 3979 would make permanent a pilot program that allows the Veterans Affairs Department to hire contract physicians to conduct disability examinations for veterans applying for benefits, rather than relying solely on VA employees. The bill would codify this authority into law and require contract doctors to be licensed health care professionals who are eligible to work in the VA system, though they could practice in any state regardless of individual state licensing restrictions. The legislation eliminates the existing time-limited pilot program and requires the VA Secretary to submit a report to Congress within three years assessing how the use of contract physicians affects the cost, speed, and quality of disability examinations. This change would affect veterans undergoing disability evaluations and the VA system's ability to process benefit claims more efficiently by expanding its workforce beyond government employees.