Army Army won't pay for step 3? Why not?

[83462]

I called the HPSP office and they said that they will not pay for step 3 AND that our residency program will not pay for it... why is that? Isn't it a required test on your way to becoming a physician? I would expect that to be a covered expense. Any ideas?

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[backrow]

I am not 100% on this but the HPSP office is likely balking as their requirements for funding you end at medical school. Step 3 is not required for medical school graduation.

Step 3 was funded by some other pot of money at BUMED for Navy when I did it. You will soon learn that the "pots of money" in the military shall never cross streams

 

[jabreal00]

It is odd that the military does not cover USMLE III because they reimburse for board certification.

 

[colbgw02]

That is a little odd. I'm wondering if they don't reimburse because it can be part of one's initial licensure. I know not all states do it like this, but I had to register for step III by going through the state in which I was first licensed. They don't pay for licensure, so is it possible they're just lumping step III in with that in an attempt to save money?

 

[NavyFP]

The military does not pay for things related to licensure. This is why Step 3 is not covered. Steps 1 and 2 are covered because your school required them for graduation. If your school did not require them for advancement or graduation, HPSP would not pay.

 

[backrow]

The military does not pay for things related to licensure. This is why Step 3 is not covered. Steps 1 and 2 are covered because your school required them for graduation. If your school did not require them for advancement or graduation, HPSP would not pay.

Am I really that old to have forgotten that I paid for Step 3? Oh man...

 

[HighPriest]

I would definitely check with your GME office at whatever station you do residency (as most people take step 3 during their intern year). They certainly used to pay for it, but as mentioned already the Army is weaseling our of many of it's prior committments due to funding issues. I know that up until very recently they were still paying for board examination fees, but I haven't checked on the status of that in a while.

 

[idq1i]

MEDCOM's policy is not to pay for license fees or board fees. I guess now step 3 falls under this umbrella (along with CME I guess)

 

[HighPriest]

Almost forgot to answer the second question: because the Army puts zero priority on medical education.

 

[jabreal00]

MEDCOM's policy is not to pay for license fees or board fees. I guess now step 3 falls under this umbrella (along with CME I guess)

Army reimburses for board certification. They reimbursed me for my primary as well as sub specialty board certification. Only thing I had to pay out of pocket was for USMLE III and state license. It doesn't quite make sense because once a physician has internship and a license they are of utility to the Army as in they can be sent out as a GMO.

 

[Gastrapathy]

I would have bet good money the navy paid for step 3. Too much booze I guess.

 

[pgg]

I'm pretty sure the Navy paid for my step 3 exam when I was an intern at Bethesda (2003). I could be confabulating that memory though, I guess.

 

[Ziehl-Neelsen]

I could be confabulating that memory though, I guess.

Make sure you hang the banana bag before you hang the dextrose.

 

[pgg]

Make sure you hang the banana bag before you hang the dextrose.

Soon as I finish my eye-opener ...

 

[HighPriest]

The Army will pay for your rehab. You just don't need the CME...