RURAL Healthcare Act

The RURAL Healthcare Act proposes to reclassify certain temporary healthcare professionals as independent contractors for the purposes of federal labor laws. It specifies that qualified locum tenens professionals and advanced care practitioners, such as physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician's assistants, would not be considered employees under the Fair Labor Standards Act or the National Labor Relations Act. This reclassification applies if they provide temporary services for up to one continuous year at a site and operate under a written contract stating they are not employees. The bill directly affects these healthcare providers and the facilities that contract for their temporary services.