Tennessee House Bill HB2015

Tennessee 2023-2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/23/24
• Refer: 1/25/24

Caption

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 68, Chapter 140, Part 3, relative to advanced emergency medical technicians.

Impact

The proposed amendment is expected to have a positive impact on the availability of emergency medical technicians in Tennessee. By allowing military medics to be licensed as AEMTs without undergoing additional educational requirements, it seeks to streamline the process and encourage veterans to enter the workforce in emergency medical services. This could lead to an increase in the number of qualified emergency personnel available to support communities, particularly in underserved areas where medical response times can be critical.

Summary

House Bill 2015 aims to amend the Tennessee Code Annotated related to advanced emergency medical technicians (AEMTs). The primary focus of the bill is to facilitate the licensing of medics who have completed military training programs in the Army, Navy, or Air Force. Specifically, the bill allows these individuals to obtain AEMT licenses after passing the National Registry Exam for Advanced Emergency Medical Technicians without the requirement of completing a formal AEMT educational program. This change is designed to recognize the skills and training that military medics have already acquired through their service.

Contention

While the bill appears to have widespread support among legislators recognizing the need for accelerated licensing for military medics, there could be concerns from educational institutions and some healthcare professionals. Critics might argue that bypassing formal education could compromise the quality of training for AEMTs, potentially impacting patient care. The balance between honoring military service and maintaining high standards in emergency medical services is likely to be a point of discussion as the bill progresses through the legislative process.