Sec. 7222. Deferred retirement and retention in active duty status for health professions officers
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Section 2154 of title 14, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: Subject to paragraph (2), the Secretary may defer the retirement or separation under subsection
(a)of a health professions officer if, during the period of the deferment, the health professions officer will be performing duties that consist primarily of providing patient care or performing other clinical duties. A deferment under this subsection may not extend beyond the first day of the month following the month in which the health professions officer concerned becomes 68 years of age. The Secretary may designate as health professions officers a category of members of the Coast Guard whose duties consist primarily of— providing health care; performing other clinical care, including radiology, specialty care, behavioral health care, pharmacy care, medical laboratory, or testing; or performing health care-related administrative duties. Nothing in this subsection may be construed to prohibit or modify the application of any provision relating to mandatory separation or disciplinary action. In this subsection, the term ‘health professions officer’ means an officer or enlisted member of the Coast Guard in good standing who is— a physician, surgeon, medical specialist, nurse or nurse practitioner, physician’s assistant, health service technician, therapist, fully licensed clinical psychotherapist, counselor, social worker, medical assistant, radiology assistant, pharmacist, pharmacy assistant, nutritionist, dietitian, any administrative personnel associated with a Coast Guard medical program (including a clinic), personnel who works in a medical laboratory, physical therapist, physical therapist aide, occupational therapist, or occupational therapist aide; a dentist, dental assistant, oral surgeon, or any other dental-related personnel; or a member of a category designated by the Secretary under paragraph (3). . Section 3753 of title 14, United States Code, is amended— by redesignating subsection
(d)as subsection (e); and by inserting after subsection
(c)the following: Notwithstanding subsections (a), (b), and (c), the Secretary may authorize the retention of a Reserve health professions officer in an active status not beyond the first day of the month following the month in which the health professions officer concerned becomes 68 years of age. Nothing in this subsection may be construed to prohibit or modify the application of any provision relating to mandatory separation or disciplinary action. In this subsection, the term health professions officer means an officer or enlisted member of the Coast Guard in good standing who is— a physician, surgeon, medical specialist, nurse or nurse practitioner, physician’s assistant, health service technician, therapist, fully licensed clinical psychotherapist, counselor, social worker, medical assistant, radiology assistant, pharmacist, pharmacy assistant, nutritionist, dietitian, any administrative personnel associated with a Coast Guard medical program (including a clinic), personnel who works in a medical laboratory, physical therapist, physical therapist aide, occupational therapist, or occupational therapist aide; a dentist, dental assistant, oral surgeon, or any other dental-related personnel; or a member of a category designated by the Secretary under section 2154(c)(3). .