Press Releases

WASHINGTON, D.C. – This week, in keeping with his commitment to our nation’s service members and veterans, Congressman Abe Hamadeh (AZ-08) introduced the Medic Education and Deployment into Civilian (MEDIC) Careers Act. This legislation aims to ease the healthcare provider shortage and provide more job opportunities for veterans.

As part of his continuing effort to work across the aisle for the benefit of our nation’s Service Members and Veterans, the Medic Education and Deployment into Civilian (MEDIC) Careers Act is co-led by Congresswoman Maxine Dexter, M.D. of Oregon (OR-03).

"This legislation is a no-nonsense, cost-effective solution to the critical healthcare provider shortage crippling our communities," said Congressman Abe Hamadeh. "Even better, this bill will supercharge the Department of War's ability to help our veterans secure meaningful jobs with healthcare providers, putting America’s heroes to work where they’re needed most."

Background:

Nurses are the largest group of health care professionals, but because of an aging population and workforce, increased prevalence in chronic illness, and provider burnout, an estimated 275,000 additional nurses with every level of experience will be needed by 2030 to meet demand. 

Military medics provide emergency medical care and treatment in combat, as well as in hospitals, clinics, and field units. The required certifications to serve as a military medic vary across branches, and not all certification requirements have a civilian equivalent. Because of these varying requirements, existing transition assistance programs for service members are not always effective for health care personnel. 

In 2023, more than 173,000 health care personnel served in the United States Armed Services, but lack of uniformity within the state-based civilian credentialing system can make it difficult to identify how military experience and training translates to the civilian health care workforce. 

About the Legislation 

• Identifies barriers to standardizing military medic credentials and experience within the individual branches of the armed forces and aligning those requirements with civilian credentials and requirements. 

• Identifies barriers to increasing the availability and accessibility of preparatory activities within DoD’s transition assistance programs, specifically within the health care sector. 

• Considers the potential impacts of states clarifying the civilian equivalents of certain military credentials and experience in health care and the implementation of certain programs to bridge military medic credentials and civilian health care credentials. 

• Update an existing Department of Defense grant program to support eligible civilian health care providers and service members in hiring, training or retraining, and retention efforts.