The Senate today (November 18) approved legislation introduced by Senator Scott E. Hutchinson intended to assist the Pennsylvania National Guard in its efforts to recruit and retain military resident physicians.
The intent of the Military Physician Incentive Program in Senate Bill 403 is to use state Educational Assistance Program (EAP) funding to encourage those officers to continue their service in the National Guard.
“This bill would address the ongoing and critical need for a state recruiting incentive for physicians in the National Guard. Only a fraction of the available military physician positions are currently filled,” said Senator Hutchinson. “Military physicians provide critical support during overseas deployments, contingency operations and domestic emergencies and I hope we can use our resources to encourage these doctors to stay in the National Guard.”
Although military physicians qualify for various federally-funded bonuses and incentive programs that include military obligations, none of them currently require continued service in the National Guard.
Senate Bill 403 now goes to the House of Representatives for consideration.
Contact:
Justin Leventry
(717) 787-9684