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Health Care Provider Shortage Minimization Act of 2023
12/20/2024, 9:06 AM
Summary of Bill HR 5208
One of the key provisions of the bill is the establishment of scholarship and loan repayment programs for individuals who commit to working in areas with a shortage of healthcare providers. These programs would provide financial assistance to students pursuing degrees in healthcare fields, as well as to current healthcare professionals who agree to work in underserved areas.
Additionally, the bill includes measures to improve access to healthcare services in rural and underserved communities. This includes funding for telehealth services, which can help bridge the gap between patients and healthcare providers in remote areas. Overall, the Health Care Provider Shortage Minimization Act of 2023 aims to address the growing shortage of healthcare providers in the United States by providing financial incentives for individuals to pursue careers in healthcare and by improving access to healthcare services in underserved areas.
Congressional Summary of HR 5208
Health Care Provider Shortage Minimization Act of 2023
This bill provides statutory authority to classify qualified locum tenens physicians and advanced care practitioners as independent contractors for federal tax purposes. (Locum tenens generally refers to an individual who temporarily fulfills the duties of another individual and is commonly used to refer to temporary staffing in the healthcare industry.)
Under current law, independent contractors are considered self-employed for federal tax purposes and, thus, are required to make quarterly estimated income tax payments and pay self-employment taxes (Social Security and Medicare taxes). (Other federal tax reporting requirements and obligations apply.)
The bill defines a qualified locum tenens physician or advanced care practitioner as an individual who provides temporary services for not more than one continuous year at a site of service as (1) a doctor of medicine, osteopathy, dentistry, optometry, or podiatry (authorized to provide such services by the state, U.S. possession, or U.S. territory in which such services are performed); or (2) a nurse practitioner, physician’s assistant, or certified registered nurse anesthetist. The term also includes an individual who provides such temporary services and is otherwise considered a physician under the Social Security Act (e.g., certain chiropractors).
