I 
111TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 6339 
To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a program to assist 
military medics and corpsmen in making transitions to civilian physician 
assistant jobs. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
SEPTEMBER 29, 2010 
Ms. HERSETH SANDLIN (for herself and Mr. BOOZMAN) introduced the 
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 
A BILL 
To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a 
program to assist military medics and corpsmen in mak-
ing transitions to civilian physician assistant jobs. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Veteran Medic Corps-
men Physician Assistant Demonstration Program Act of 
2010’’. 
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SEC. 2. PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT MILITARY PATHWAYS PRO-
GRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subject to the availability of ap-
propriations provided for such purpose, the Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs, in collaboration with the Secretary of 
Labor, the Secretary of Defense, and the Secretary of 
Health and Human Services, shall establish a program in 
accordance with this section to examine methods of ena-
bling eligible individuals to build on medical skills gained 
through military jobs by entering into the physician assist-
ant workforce to meet the demand for physician assist-
ants. 
(b) STUDY.—In carrying out the program, the Sec-
retary shall conduct a study that includes examination of 
the following: 
(1) Whether the demonstration projects carried 
out under subsection (c) are effective in improving 
the ability of eligible individuals to become licensed 
physician assistants, and what modifications to the 
demonstration projects are necessary to meet that 
goal. 
(2) Ways of bringing the demonstration 
projects carried out under subsection (c) to the at-
tention of eligible individuals, including through in-
formation provided to eligible individuals by— 
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(A) the Department of Defense transition 
program known as the Transition Assistance 
Program, carried out under section 1144 of 
title 10, United States Code; and 
(B) the Department of Labor veterans 
transition program carried out under chapter 
41 of title 38, United States Code. 
(3) Whether eligible individuals participating in 
a demonstration project carried out under subsection 
(c) are receiving the educational support services 
they need in order to complete their physician assist-
ant education and obtain certification, and what fur-
ther steps the Secretary should take in order to en-
sure that those eligible individuals have access to 
such support services. 
(4) Whether the program established under this 
section could serve as a model for new programs to 
assist eligible individuals in obtaining certification in 
other health care fields. 
(c) GRANTS FOR DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall award 
grants, on a competitive basis, to eligible entities to 
carry out demonstration programs in accordance 
with this subsection. 
(2) USE OF FUNDS.— 
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(A) IN GENERAL.—An eligible entity re-
ceiving a grant under this subsection shall use 
funds from such grant to establish a dem-
onstration program that enables eligible individ-
uals to receive academic credit from an accred-
ited physician assistant program based on the 
military credentials and medical skills experi-
ence of the eligible individual. 
(B) PRIORITY
ADMISSION.—In admitting 
eligible individuals into a demonstration pro-
gram carried out with funds received under this 
subsection, an eligible entity shall give priority 
to eligible individuals who serve or have served 
as a paramedic or other similar medical support 
position in the Armed Forces. 
(C) EXAMINATION ELIGIBILITY REQUIRE-
MENT.—An eligible entity shall ensure that an 
eligible individual participating in a demonstra-
tion program carried out with funds received 
under this section is eligible to take the Physi-
cian Assistant National Certifying Exam ad-
ministered by the National Commission on Cer-
tification of Physician Assistants upon comple-
tion of the program. 
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(3) APPLICATION.—To be eligible to receive a 
grant under this subsection, an eligible entity shall 
submit an application to the Secretary at such time, 
in such manner, and containing such information as 
the Secretary may require, including— 
(A) information demonstrating— 
(i) the capability of the eligible entity 
to work with eligible individuals; 
(ii) a history of effective collaboration 
between the eligible entity and— 
(I) health care employers; and 
(II) 
State 
medical 
licensing 
boards, as appropriate; and 
(B) an assurance that the eligible entity 
will participate in any evaluations by the Sec-
retary of the demonstration program carried 
out with funds received under this subsection, 
including participating in reporting as required 
by the Secretary. 
(4) SELECTION CRITERIA.—The Secretary shall 
establish selection criteria for eligible entities con-
sistent with this subsection, and shall ensure that 
the criteria give priority to eligible entities showing 
the ability to sustain a demonstration program de-
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veloped under this subsection after the expiration of 
the grant period. 
(d) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.—The Secretary shall 
provide technical assistance to eligible entities receiving 
grants under this subsection. 
(e) REPORT.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than one year 
after the date of enactment of this Act, and each 
year thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to the ap-
propriate committees of Congress and Federal agen-
cies a report on the findings and outcomes of the 
program carried out under this section. 
(2) CONTENTS.—The Secretary shall include in 
each report submitted under this subsection— 
(A) the results of the study conducted 
under subsection (b); and 
(B) information pertaining to each eligible 
entity receiving a grant under subsection (c) re-
garding the number of eligible individuals re-
ferred to, accepted into, and graduating from, 
the demonstration program carried out by the 
eligible entity. 
(3) DISTRIBUTION.—The Secretary shall dis-
tribute a report submitted under this subsection to 
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veterans’ service organizations and State medical 
licencing boards. 
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act, the following definitions apply: 
(1) ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUAL.—The term ‘‘eligible 
individual’’ means an individual with medical or 
health professional experience gained while serving 
in the Armed Forces who— 
(A) has received a certificate, associate de-
gree, baccalaureate degree, master’s degree, or 
post-baccalaureate training in a science relating 
to health care; 
(B) has participated in the delivery of 
health care services or related medical services, 
including participation in military training re-
lating to the identification, evaluation, treat-
ment, and prevention of disease and disorders; 
and 
(C) does not have— 
(i) a degree of doctor of medicine; 
(ii) a degree of doctor of osteopathy; 
or 
(iii) a degree of doctor of dentistry. 
(2) ELIGIBLE ENTITY.—The term ‘‘eligible enti-
ty’’ means an institution of higher education with a 
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physician assistant program that is accredited by the 
Accreditation Review Commission on Education for 
the Physician Assistant. 
SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out 
this Act $4,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2012 through 
2016. 
Æ 
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