S. 2673 — MEDIC Careers Act of 2025

This section requires the Secretary concerned—generally the Secretary of Defense, or the Secretary of Homeland Security for the Coast Guard—to develop, in consultation with states (via Defense-State Liaison Offices), the Secretaries of Veterans Affairs, Health and Human Services, and Labor, recommendations to improve military medics' transition to civilian health care occupations (e.g., certified nurse aides, licensed practical nurses, medical assistants). In doing so, the Secretary concerned must (1) identify barriers to determining and communicating military-to-civilian credential equivalencies; standardizing and aligning military medic credentials with civilian ones; ensuring equivalent civilian credentials before separation; expanding accelerated or bridge programs; increasing SkillBridge program (i.e., pre-separation internships with civilian employers) access in health care; and enhancing Transition Assistance Program (TAP) information on state licensing; and (2) consider impacts of state clarification of military credential equivalents, state incentives for bridge programs, state financial support, military alignment of credentials with civilian equivalents, and VA-DOL tracking of post-separation health care employment. Not later than 180 days after enactment, the Secretary concerned must submit to specified congressional committees (Armed Services; Commerce, Science, and Transportation or Education and Workforce; Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions; and Veterans' Affairs) a report containing the recommendations and an implementation plan.

This section revises 10 U.S.C. 1153, which previously authorized the Secretaries of Defense and Homeland Security to establish a placement program assisting eligible separating members of the armed forces with health care-related skills or education in obtaining employment with health care providers, to instead establish a Health Care Workforce Preparedness and Response Pilot Program. Under the pilot program, the Secretary of Defense awards grants to eligible providers—nonprofit entities owning or operating specified facilities (i.e., rural health clinics, nursing homes, facilities in health professional shortage areas, Federally qualified health centers, or other health care facilities) located in medically underserved areas—to hire, train, and retain separating or recently separated members of the Armed Forces in civilian health care occupations. Grants have a three-year duration, with up to two one-year renewals or until funds are exhausted, and are capped at $600,000 for the initial period and $200,000 per additional year. Grant funds support new or enhanced programs for hiring and retention; transition assistance, including licensing, credentialing, certification, and training (coordinated with Department of Defense transition programs and, if eligible under the GI Bill, with Department of Veterans Affairs educational assistance); and ensuring adequate representation of rural providers. Eligible providers must apply with specified information, including project descriptions, sustainment plans, and expected improvements in health care access. Grantees must submit periodic evaluation reports to the Secretary, who must report to specified congressional committees and publicly on the program's success in enhancing separating members' access to civilian health care occupations, beginning two years after enactment and annually thereafter.