HR-6510 : Still Just a Bill
Warning: The content below was generated with AI.
The National Military Civilian Medical Surge Program Act of 2025 (H.R. 6510) proposes to amend title 10, United States Code, to establish the Military-Civilian Medical Surge Program. This program aims to:
- Enhance the interoperability and medical surge capability and capacity of the National Disaster Medical System (NDMS) in response to national emergencies, public health emergencies, declarations of war, contingency operations, or other major disasters.
- Support selected strategic locations across the United States.
The Secretary of Defense, in collaboration with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, would oversee this program, with management and deployment handled by the Institute for Defense Health Cooperation at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. Key aspects of the program include:
- Partnerships: The Secretary of Defense would establish partnerships with public, private, and nonprofit health care organizations, academic medical centers, and hospitals. These partners must be critical for civilian medical response during wartime or catastrophic events and demonstrate expertise in areas such as high-consequence infectious diseases.
- Locations: At least eight operationally relevant locations in the United States, identified as aeromedical or transport hubs, would be selected for these partnerships.
- Mobilization: These partnerships would enable civilian medical personnel to quickly support military medical treatment facilities and the military health system during various declared emergencies.
- Coordination and Reporting: The program would require ongoing coordination between military departments, the Joint Staff, the Defense Health Agency, and the Department of Health and Human Services. Annual reports on the program's status, readiness, and operational capabilities would be submitted to relevant Congressional committees.
The Act also explicitly states that it does not authorize the Secretary of Defense to control or limit the authorities of the Secretary of Health and Human Services regarding the leadership and administration of the National Disaster Medical System or public health preparedness.