RURAL Healthcare Act

Key Points

• This bill changes the legal status of temporary healthcare workers like traveling doctors and nurse practitioners. It would label them as independent contractors instead of employees if they work at one location for less than a year.
• The rule applies to doctors, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners who fill in for others or help with staffing shortages. For this to apply, the worker must sign a contract agreeing they are not an employee.
• Being an independent contractor means these workers would not be covered by certain federal labor laws. This includes rules about overtime pay and the right to form or join a union at the hospital where they are working.
• The goal is to help rural hospitals find staff more easily by making the hiring process simpler and less expensive. Some people may worry that this takes away important job protections for the medical professionals involved.

Impact Analysis

Govbase has not yet run an impact analysis on this legislation.