Bill would help combat medics become civilian EMTs

A bipartisan bill introduced this week would facilitate the transition process for military combat medics to become emergency medical technicians upon returning to the civilian workforce.

The legislation, introduced by Reps. Lois Capps (D-Calif.) and Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.), would provide grants to states to simplify requirements for veterans with medical training to receive certifications as EMTs. 

The lawmakers argued that former military medical technicians would be among the most qualified candidates to fill EMT positions and shouldn’t have to complete training courses for skills they already know.

{mosads}”Instead of starting their training over at the most basic level to receive certification for civilian jobs, experienced military medics should be able to more easily use the skills they already own,” Capps said in a statement.

Kinzinger, a veteran of both the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, said he hears of EMT shortages in his district that could be filled by veterans who served as medics.

“One thing I consistently hear from local ambulance companies who provide emergency and non-emergency ambulance service to the citizens of the sixteenth district is that they have difficulty filling medical technician positions,” Kinzinger said.

Capps and Kinzinger introduced the legislation in the last two sessions of Congress, during which it passed the House both times. However, it never made it through the Senate.

“I am hopeful that this 114th Congress is the one that will push this bill over the finish line,” Capps said.

Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) has introduced a companion bill in the Senate.