RURAL Healthcare Act Reinforcing Underserved, Rural, and Local...
To classify qualified locum tenens professionals and advanced care practitioners as independent contractors for the purposes of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 and the National Labor Relations Act.
The bill, HB8347, aims to reclassify certain healthcare professionals as independent contractors under the Fair Labor Standards Act and the National Labor Relations Act. Specifically, it targets qualified locum tenens professionals and advanced care practitioners working in rural and underserved areas. This change is intended to provide them with more flexibility and potentially better compensation.
This legislation would primarily affect healthcare workers in rural areas, aiming to improve their job status and potentially their working conditions and pay. It could also have broader implications for how temporary and specialized healthcare roles are managed and compensated.
HB8347 was introduced on April 16, 2026, and referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce. On July 21, 2026, the committee reviewed and marked up the bill, subsequently voting to report it back to the House with amendments. The next steps involve further consideration and potential debate in the House.
