USPHS Update

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Specializes in Psych, Med Surg, ER.

Anyone else on this site who would be called to active duty in the USPHS within the next couple of months please read the following post: Due to the health care bill passing last week, all orders calling people into active duty in the USPHS is now voided. What happened is due to the wording of the bill the reserve corps were disbanded and a new ready reserves were created. Well, because all of us who were supposed to get called to active duty were going to be called to the active reserve corps for OBC or to start our new jobs. Now with it disbanded, our orders are invalid. There currently is not a time table in place yet to get the paperwork sent up to Sec of HHS (Kathleen Sebilious) to get an amendment to the law to give the USPHS the ability to commission their own officers. I have heard that the USPHS will get the orders out as soon as its possible and reschedule the people who were pulled out of OBC ASAP. So to make a long story short, everyone who is supposed to start their new jobs are now in a holding pattern.

I hope that you had heard from your contact person about this by now. I wanted to say something because it effects me because my OBC was canceled and so was my flight there. I also had to put my uniform order on hold. I had to go back to my job and pull my resignation letter.

Not trying to be difficult, but where has this been announced? I got curious and did some web searching and can't find a thing about it - it's not even on the USPHS website. If this indeed may affect folks that get on this site, a link might be helpful for them, otherwise it may be taken as hearsay/rumor.

This is drastics i just got my letter saying my start date is May 17th. Please let me know where u heard this and where I can find it. My future depends on this so please let me know how i can check this out and bring it up to my CAM because they just offered me the job.

Specializes in Psych, Med Surg, ER.

Its isn't on their website, but if u google the healthcare bill with usphs it will say the creation of the ready reserve...by all means make sure u talk to your cam officer if u are really concerned...if u need more info, please either comment or instant message me..it doesn't mean you don't have a job, but rather your orders are pending that's all...the usphs is working as fast as they can to fix it

Good info, Viper - thanks for the quick reply....

Specializes in Psych, Med Surg, ER.

No problem, just want to make sure everyone has a chance to know whats going on to plan accordingly...

Has anyone received anything in writing? Are we supposed to just not show up at our assignments and risk being considered AWOL? What is your HHG have been picked up or resigned from you regular job?

Perhaps those of us that have rec'd orders will be moved to the regular corps as well. Has anyone contacted his/her CAM? I will on Monday.

Specializes in Psych, Med Surg, ER.

I don't think it will be in writing, I received it via a conference call...the only people moved to active duty will be those already in the usphs, not the ones who have been called to active duty but not started yet. Your job should be safe, they have talked to your supervisors (at least on the DOD side). The most important thing is to talk to your cam.

@viper

What did you CAM tell you? Wow...this is interesting...we all have signed contracts...you would think that a change in orders would come in writing....

Did your CAM give you any indication of the how this will be remedied?

Specializes in Psych, Med Surg, ER.

He told me that he didn't have any timeframe and he didn't want to speculate, but I'm hoping that its this month. My cam told me that they either have to get the paperwork fixed to allow us to call to active duty in the ready reserve or they may have to take our names higher up and get commissioned by the president or whomever can do it...Im getting the feeling that there isn't alot of info floating around right now...I mean the biggest things he said was we do have our jobs, our supervisors know about the situation and they are being very patient and compassionate with us, at least on the DOD side the liason to the army and the navy know about our plight...they said they would contact us as soon as they have some more information.

Would any of you be willing to enter you new position on the GS level and wait to be added on

as a CC Officer?

Hmmm...In the meantime, You would lose out on lots of benefits etc.

Someone suggested that I start my job as a GS and then switch

over to PHS Officer....I never considered taking my assignment as a

GS.... For me it was PHS frm the start.... After doing the math

I realize that I would lose out on so much by going GS. My spouse

also resigned ... So my 2 income fam is a bust right now....the

Going GS would still leave me in a hardship.... I reallyhope they

fix this fast. I know a guy that sAid he feels like writng and calling

because of the lack of exposure this is getting.... I'm not sure if

that's the way to go but it would be nice to receive some updates.

Would any of yoU consider going GS and waiting for PHS?

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