HR9140-119

What This Bill Does

The MEDIC Careers Act of 2026 would require the Defense and, for the Coast Guard when outside the Navy, Homeland Security secretaries to develop recommendations for helping military medics enter civilian health care occupations. The work would be done in consultation with states and the Departments of Veterans Affairs, Health and Human Services, and Labor. Within 180 days of enactment, each responsible secretary would have to report the recommendations and an implementation plan to specified congressional committees.

The review would identify barriers to translating military training into civilian credentials, standardizing medic experience across the services, obtaining civilian credentials before separation, expanding bridge programs, increasing health-sector SkillBridge access, and improving state-by-state licensing information in transition services. Officials would consider state clarification of equivalent credentials, state incentives for bridge programs, alignment of military and civilian credentials, and tracking of former military health personnel who remain in the civilian sector. These are recommendations for consideration; the bill would not itself override state licensing rules, award a civilian credential, or require an employer to hire a separating medic.

The bill would also rewrite the Health Care Workforce Preparedness and Response Pilot Program. The Defense Department would award grants to qualifying public or private nonprofit health care providers located in medically underserved areas. An applicant would have to own or operate, or belong to a consortium including, a rural health clinic, nursing home, facility in a health professional shortage area, federally qualified health center, or other covered health care facility.

Grant recipients could use funds to hire and retain separating or recently separated service members, help them while they obtain licenses or certifications, provide required training, and coordinate with Defense transition programs. The initial grant period would last three years and could be renewed for up to two one-year periods if money remains. A recipient could receive no more than $600,000 for the initial period and $200,000 for each renewal, for a maximum of $1 million over five years. Rural providers would have to be adequately represented among awards.

The measure would authorize, but not itself appropriate, $5 million per year for fiscal years 2027 through 2031, totaling $25 million. Defense could use no more than 10 percent of annual appropriations for administration. Recipients would submit periodic evaluations, and Defense would publish and submit program-success reports beginning within two years of enactment and at least annually thereafter.

Who Benefits and How

Separating military medics could receive clearer credential pathways, bridge training, licensing support, and employment assistance. Recently separated service members could also qualify for help under provider grant programs. Eligible nonprofit rural clinics, nursing homes, federally qualified health centers, and shortage-area facilities could receive funding for recruitment, training, and retention. Medically underserved and rural communities could gain health workers if participating providers successfully fill vacancies.

Who Bears the Burden and How

The responsible military departments and consulted federal agencies would perform the barrier review, coordinate with states, develop an implementation plan, administer grants, and report results. Grant applicants and recipients would prepare detailed applications, sustainability plans, periodic evaluations, and licensing or training programs. Federal taxpayers would finance amounts later appropriated under the $25 million authorization. Providers that are for-profit or outside a medically underserved area would not qualify.

Key Provisions

• Requires recommendations on translating military medic experience into civilian credentials.
• Requires a congressional report and implementation plan within 180 days.
• Establishes Defense grants for qualifying nonprofit providers in underserved areas.
• Funds hiring, retention, licensing support, training, and transition coordination.
• Caps an initial three-year grant at $600,000 and each of two renewals at $200,000.
• Requires adequate representation of rural providers among grant awards.
• Authorizes $25 million over FY2027-FY2031, subject to later appropriations.
• Requires recipient evaluations and recurring public Defense Department reports.