Healthcare (Healthcare Workforce)

This bill adds Medicare coverage for home-based treatment of Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency Disorder (a rare genetic condition causing lung and liver damage). It specifically covers "augmentation therapy" (replacement protein therapy) delivered at home by qualified suppliers to Medicare Part A and B enrollees with this diagnosis who aren't in Medicare Advantage plans. The bill establishes payment for intravenous kits and up to 2 hours of nursing services per session, set at 80% of the lesser of actual cost or a defined rate. It amends Medicare rules to include this treatment under coverage, effective January 2027.

The SPARC Act (HR 4681) creates a federal loan repayment program for specialty physicians and non-physician health care providers (like nurse practitioners) who commit to working in rural areas with shortages of these specialists. It covers up to $250,000 in repayment for eligible education loans (including federal student loans) over a 6-year service commitment in designated rural communities. Providers must work full-time without gaps exceeding one year, and non-physician providers are limited to 15% of annual funding. The program requires annual reports to Congress on provider locations and impact, while preventing double benefits with other federal loan forgiveness programs.

This bill clarifies and preserves existing labor law exemptions for home care workers under the Fair Labor Standards Act. It specifically defines "companionship services" to include non-medical in-home care (like bathing, meal prep, and medication reminders) and ensures these services remain exempt from overtime pay requirements, even when provided through third-party agencies. The bill directly affects home care aides, agencies employing them, and the seniors/disabled individuals receiving care. It does not create new benefits or funding but maintains current labor exemptions for this workforce.

Providing Real-world Education and Clinical Experience by Precepting Tomorrow's Nurses Act or the PRECEPT Nurses Act This bill establishes a new, nonrefundable tax credit for eligible nurse preceptors, subject to limitations. The bill also requires the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to report to Congress certain information about the tax credit for nurse preceptors. Under the bill, a nonrefundable tax credit of $2,000 is allowed for an eligible nurse preceptor through 2032. An eligible nurse preceptor is defined as an individual who provides at least 200 certified hours of supervision and personalized experiential learning, training, instruction, and mentoring in the clinical practice of nursing to a nursing student, advanced practice registered nursing student, or newly hired licensed nurse in a community designated as a health professional shortage area.  The bill also requires the IRS to report to Congress the number of taxpayers that claim the tax credit for nurse preceptors each year and the geographic distribution of such taxpayers, aggregated and averaged data on the preceptorships served by taxpayers as an eligible nurse preceptor, and the effectiveness of the tax credit in increasing the number of nurse preceptors in the United States.

The Veterans Homecare Choice Act of 2025 expands the definition of "nurse registry" within the Veterans Community Care Program. It directly affects veterans using community care by allowing more home healthcare workers, including registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, certified nursing assistants, home health aides, companions, and homemakers, to be provided through these registries. The key change adds specific language to clarify that nurse registries - entities procuring contracts for these workers - qualify as providers, provided they meet state licensure requirements. This update streamlines access to a broader range of homecare services for veterans under the existing program.

This bill allows physical therapists to use temporary replacement staff (locum tenens) under Medicare, similar to how physicians currently can. It directly affects physical therapists providing outpatient services and Medicare beneficiaries relying on those services. The key change modifies Medicare rules to apply the same provisions for physical therapy services as are already used for physician services. This means physical therapists can more easily fill temporary staffing gaps without disrupting patient care. The amendment applies to services provided after the bill's enactment date.

HR 1683 blocks the implementation of a new federal staffing rule for nursing homes (published May 2024) and creates an advisory panel focused on rural nursing home workforce challenges. The bill directly affects rural skilled nursing facilities and seniors who rely on care in these facilities by halting the rule and requiring the panel to assess staffing shortages in rural and underserved areas. The panel, composed of 17 members including rural representatives from nursing staff, facilities, and state boards, must report within 60 days on workforce barriers and recommend solutions to reduce regulatory burdens. Subsequent annual reports will track progress on strengthening the nursing home workforce, particularly in rural communities.

HR 3655, the STAR Plus Scholarship Act, creates a federal scholarship program to address shortages in mental health and substance use disorder treatment workforces. It provides tuition and educational expense coverage to students enrolled in approved programs leading to careers as psychiatrists, social workers, addiction counselors, or other mental health professionals. In exchange, recipients must work full-time in designated mental health professional shortage areas or counties with high overdose death rates for one year per scholarship year. The program authorizes $75 million annually (2026-2030) and prioritizes applicants from underrepresented groups or those likely to continue serving in shortage areas after their obligation ends.

This bill changes the training requirements for certified nursing assistants (CNAs) in nursing and skilled nursing facilities. It requires the Health and Human Services Secretary to revise federal regulations so that registered nurses supervising CNA training need only 2 years of general nursing experience - not specifically in long-term care facilities. This change directly affects nursing facilities that train CNAs and the registered nurses who supervise that training. The key provision broadens the pool of eligible supervisors by removing the prior requirement for long-term care experience, making it easier for facilities to meet training needs.

This bill requires every Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) hospital and urgent care facility to employ at least one Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) or a qualified healthcare provider to perform sexual assault forensic examinations. It mandates that after such an examination, veterans must be verbally referred to mental health services, either at the VA hospital or via a Veterans Care Agreement if VA wait times exceed 30 days. The bill explicitly prohibits any reduction in other patient care responsibilities for VA staff while implementing these requirements. The law directly affects veterans seeking sexual assault care at VA facilities by ensuring access to specialized examiners and timely mental health referrals.