Washington, D.C. -- Rep. Jane Harman (D-CA), member of the Energy & Commerce Health subcommittee, together with Rep. John Sarbanes (D-MD), successfully added an amendment today to HR 3200 – The Affordable Health Choices Act – during mark-up.  The amendment is an effort to honor returning veterans and streamline certification of experienced military medics for service in the civilian corps.  The measure passed unanimously.

“The American College of Emergency Physicians ranks California dead last in providing access to emergency care.  A terrorist attack, pandemic flu or natural disaster would overwhelm our hospitals and clinics.  Leveraging the real war experience of returning military medics is our best offense,” said Harman.

“Americans have the right to a prepared medical system and veterans deserve jobs.  This measure is a win-win,” said Harman.

Military medics work at the scenes of IED attacks, suicide bombings, and firefights.  But transitioning to the civilian corps – where their background could be put to work improving emergency response capabilities – often requires them to pay high fees and study entry-level curricula to receive certification.  Harman’s amendment to HR 3200 addresses this by:

• Encouraging State Health Departments through federal grants to create a fast-track EMT certification path for honorably discharged members of the Armed Forces with military EMS training, and to provide reimbursement for the cost of a certification fee.
• Taking previous coursework and training into account, thus avoiding wasted time and expense.
• Building partnerships between states and universities, colleges, and technical schools to establish a fast-track certification path by developing appropriate curricula to build on military medical training.
• Requiring a Government Accountability Office (GAO) study and report on the barriers experienced by veteran medics seeking to join the civilian corps to be completed within two years.