II 

115TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. 2668 

To require a pilot program on the earning by special operations forces medics 

of credits towards a physician assistant degree. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

APRIL 12, 2018 

Mr. BURR (for himself, Mrs. MURRAY, Mr. NELSON, and Mr. RUBIO) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services 

A BILL 

To require a pilot program on the earning by special operations forces medics of credits towards a physician assistant degree. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. PILOT PROGRAM ON EARNING BY SPECIAL OP4 ERATIONS FORCES MEDICS OF CREDITS TO5 WARDS A PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT DEGREE. 

6 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Defense shall 

7 conduct a pilot program to assess the feasibility and advis8 ability of partnerships between special operations forces 

9 and institutions of higher education with appropriate acVerDate Sep 11 2014 02:40 Apr 14, 2018 Jkt 079200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S2668.IS S2668

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1 creditation, and health care systems if determined appro2 priate by the Secretary for purposes of the pilot program, 

3 through which special operations forces medics earn credit 

4 toward the accredited master’s degree of physician assist5 ant for military operational work and training performed 

6 by the medics. 

7 (b) DURATION.—The Secretary shall conduct the 

8 pilot program for a period not to exceed five years. 

9 (c) CLINICAL TRAINING.—Partnerships under sub10 section (a) shall permit medics participating in the pilot 

11 program to conduct clinical training at medical facilities 

12 of the Department of Defense and the civilian sector in 

13 order to meet the increasing demand for highly trained 

14 health care providers at such facilities. 

15 (d) EVALUATION.—The evaluation of work and train16 ing performed by medics for which credits are earned 

17 under the pilot program shall comply with civilian clinical 

18 evaluation and accreditation standards applicable to the 

19 awarding of master’s degrees of physician assistant. 

20 (e) REPORTS.— 

21 (1) INITIAL REPORT.—Not later than 180 days 

22 after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Sec23 retary of Defense shall submit to the Committees on 

24 Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Rep25 resentative a report that shall include the following: 


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1 (A) A comprehensive framework for the 

2 military education to be provided to special op3 erations forces medics under the pilot program, 

4 including courses of instruction at institutions 

5 of higher education with appropriate accredita6 tion and any health care systems participating 

7 in the pilot program. 

8 (B) Metrics to be used to assess the effec9 tiveness of the pilot program. 

10 (C) A description of the mechanisms to be 

11 used by the Department, medics, or both to 

12 cover the costs of education received by medics 

13 under the pilot program through institutions of 

14 higher education or health care systems, includ15 ing payment by the Department in return for a 

16 military service commitment, tuition or other 

17 educational assistance (including scholarships, 

18 grants, or financial aid) by the Department, use 

19 by medics of post-9/11 educational assistance 

20 available through the Department of Veterans 

21 Affairs, and any other mechanisms the Sec22 retary considers appropriate for purposes of the 

23 pilot program. 

24 (2) FINAL REPORT.—Not later than 90 days 

25 after completion of the pilot program, the Secretary 


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1 shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services 

2 of the Senate and the House of Representatives a 

3 final report on the pilot program. The report shall 

4 include the following: 

5 (A) An evaluation of the pilot program 

6 using the metrics of assessment set forth pursu7 ant to paragraph (1)(B). 

8 (B) An assessment of the utility of the 

9 funding mechanisms set forth pursuant to para10 graph (1)(C). 

11 (C) An assessment of the effects of the 

12 pilot program on recruitment and retention of 

13 medics for special operations forces. 

14 (D) An assessment of the feasibility and 

15 advisability of extending one or more authori16 ties for joint professional military education 

17 under chapter 107 of title 10, United States 

18 Code, to warrant officers or enlisted personnel, 

19 and if the Secretary considers the extension of 

20 any such authorities feasible and advisable, rec21 ommendations for legislative or administrative 

22 action to so extend such authorities. 

23 (f) CONSTRUCTION OF AUTHORITIES.—Nothing in 

24 this section may be construed to— 


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1 (1) authorize an officer or employee of the Fed2 eral Government to create, endorse, or otherwise 

3 incentivize a particular curriculum or degree track; 

4 or 

5 (2) require, direct, review, or control a State or 

6 educational institution, or the instructional content, 

7 curriculum, and related activities of a State or edu8 cational institution. 

Æ 


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