Health Care Workforce Preparedness and Response Pilot Program

(a) In general Section 1153 of title 10, United States Code, is amended to read as follows: 1153. Health Care Workforce Preparedness and Response Pilot Program (a) Grants The Secretary of Defense shall establish a pilot program to award grants to eligible providers to support the hiring, training, and retention by such providers of members of the Armed Forces separating from the Armed Forces to improve access to, and enhance the quality of, civilian health care occupations by such members. (b) Duration The duration of a grant awarded under this section shall be for a period of three years, with an option to renew for subsequent one-year periods until the earlier of— (1) two renewal periods; or (2) the date on which funds are no longer available for grants under this section. (c) Eligible providers To be eligible for a grant under this section, an entity shall— (1) own or operate, or act as a consortium that includes— (A) a rural health clinic, as defined in section 1861(aa) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x(aa)); (B) a nursing home, as defined in section 232(b) of the National Housing Act (12 U.S.C. 1715w(b)); (C) a medical facility, as defined in subsection (a) of section 332 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 254e(a)), located in a health professional shortage area designated under such section; (D) a Federally qualified health center, as defined in section 1861(aa) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x(aa)); or (E) a health care facility, as defined in section 801 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 296); (2) be a public or private nonprofit organization, as defined in section 501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986; and (3) be located in a medically underserved area, as designated pursuant to section 330(b)(3)(A) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 245b(b)(3)(a)). (d) Use of funds An eligible provider receiving a grant under this section shall use amounts received through the grant to implement a new program or enhance an existing program— (1) to assist in the hiring or retaining by an eligible provider of members of the Armed Forces separating or recently separated from service in the Armed Forces; (2) to assist such members who are transitioning to employment with an eligible provider, including— (A) activities relating to the period of time the member is pursuing licensing, credentialing, or certification as required by the State, field of service of the eligible provider, or occupation of the member; and (B) providing specific training to meet Federal or State licensing or certification requirements; and (3) to coordinate or improve coordination with transition assistance programs operated by the Department of Defense to ensure appropriate transition by such members to civilian employment. (e) Application An eligible provider seeking a grant under this section shall submit to the Secretary of Defense an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require, including— (1) a description of the project that the eligible provider will carry out using the amounts provided through the grant; (2) an explanation of the reasons why Federal Government assistance is required to carry out the project; (3) a plan for sustaining the project for which the grant was awarded after Federal Government assistance for the project has ended; (4) a description of how the population in the area or areas to be served through the grant will experience increased access to quality health care services across the continuum of care as a result of the activities carried out by the eligible provider; and (5) a description of such other priorities as the Secretary of Defense considers appropriate. (f) Allocation of grants to rural providers The Secretary of Defense shall ensure that eligible providers located in rural areas are adequately represented in the total number of grants awarded under this section. (g) Maximum grant amount The amount of a grant made under this section to a single grant recipient shall not exceed— (1) with respect to the initial three-year period, $600,000; and (2) with respect to any additional year, $200,000. (h) Reports (1) Report to Secretary An eligible provider awarded a grant under this section shall periodically submit to the Secretary of Defense a report evaluating the activities supported by the grant. (2) Report to public Not later than two years after the date of the enactment of the MEDIC Careers Act of 2026, and not less frequently than annually thereafter, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress and make publicly available a report on the findings of the Secretary with respect to the success of the pilot program under this section in improving access by separating members of the Armed Forces to civilian health care occupations and enhancing the quality of those occupations. (i) Definitions In this section: (1) The term appropriate committees of Congress means— (A) the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, the Committee on Armed Services, and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate; and (B) the Committee on Education and Workforce, the Committee on Armed Services, and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives. (2) The term eligible provider means a health care provider, as defined in section 3000 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300jj). (j) Authorization of appropriations (1) In general There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Defense $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2031 to carry out this section. (2) Administrative costs The Secretary of Defense may use not more than 10 percent of the amount appropriated pursuant to paragraph (1) for a fiscal year for the administrative expenses of carrying out this section.. (b) Clerical amendment The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 58 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by striking the item relating to section 1153 and inserting the following new item: 1153. Health Care Workforce Preparedness and Response Pilot Program..