Governor Maura Healey and Veterans Services Secretary Eric Goralnick unveiled a new pilot program on Nov. 10 that would let ten former military medics and hospital corpsmen administer selected medications to patients in Massachusetts hospitals. The initiative, called Military to Medicine, was presented to the Department of Public Health (DPH) Council and will move forward pending public comment on proposed regulations.
Why the program matters
Each year thousands of service members leave the armed forces with extensive hands‑on medical training. Yet that experience does not automatically translate into civilian credentials, forcing many veterans to pursue additional schooling or leave the health‑care field altogether. By allowing these veterans to perform medication‑administration duties under a licensed physician’s supervision, the state hopes to tap a ready pool of skilled workers and ease staffing pressures in hospitals.
Program details
The pilot would place the ten veterans in DPH‑licensed hospitals that receive approval from the department. Participants would be limited to specific medication‑administration tasks and would operate under the oversight of a supervising physician, leaving broader professional‑licensing and scope‑of‑practice rules unchanged.
State Sen. John Velis, D‑Westfield, who chairs the Joint Committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs, praised the effort, noting that it includes “appropriate safeguards for patient safety.” The legislation that underpins the pilot, House Bill 2365, was introduced by Rep. Bruce Ayers, D‑Quincy, and would formalize the ability of military medical personnel to perform delegated tasks under physician supervision.
Veteran perspectives
Heather Meehan, a former Navy hospital corpsman, described her own experience: after serving in cardiac intensive care, intensive care, and medical‑surgical units, she found she qualified only as a certified nursing assistant in the civilian sector, a role she felt was “overqualified” for her skills. Programs like Military to Medicine could prevent such underemployment and honor the sacrifices of those who served.
Broader veteran‑employment initiatives
The pilot joins other state actions aimed at supporting veteran employment. In 2024, Governor Healey signed the HERO Act, expanding the Vet‑Hire Tax Credit for small businesses that hire veterans. Earlier this year, the administration eliminated apprenticeship registration renewal fees for veterans, further reducing barriers to skilled work.
Public Health Commissioner Dr. Robbie Goldstein said the program “has the potential to strengthen the state’s healthcare workforce and support continued access to safe, high‑quality patient care.” If the pilot proves successful, the Executive Office of Veterans Services will study how military medical experience translates to civilian health‑care jobs and whether the model can be expanded statewide.
Next steps
The Department of Public Health will release proposed regulations for public comment, though no comment period dates have been set. Stakeholders, including hospital administrators, veteran advocacy groups, and health‑care professionals, are expected to weigh in as the state evaluates the program’s impact on patient safety and workforce needs.
Original reporting: This Week in Worcester — read the source article.
