Medical Laboratory Personnel Shortage Relief Act of 2025
- Bill Number
- H.R. 5444
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Health
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-09-17: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-15T20:23:36Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The Medical Laboratory Personnel Shortage Relief Act of 2025 aims to tackle the nationwide shortage of medical laboratory workers by expanding federal support through the Public Health Service Act. It integrates these professionals into existing National Health Service Corps (NHSC) programs and establishes new education initiatives to boost training and recruitment, ultimately improving access to diagnostic and testing services in healthcare.
Key Provisions
- Inclusion in National Health Service Corps (NHSC) Programs:
- Defines "medical laboratory personnel" to include individuals in training or employed roles involving the analysis of human-derived materials for disease diagnosis, prevention, or treatment (e.g., phlebotomists, lab assistants, histotechnologists, lab scientists, technicians, and genetic counselors).
- Adds "medical laboratory services" alongside primary care and mental health in NHSC eligibility.
- Medical Laboratory Health Professional Target Areas:
- Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to identify underserved areas lacking lab personnel and assign NHSC members (including lab workers) to serve there.
- Applies similar rules as existing programs for maternity care professionals, adapting them for lab services.
- Loan Repayment Program Expansion:
- Includes medical laboratory personnel in the NHSC Loan Repayment Program, allowing eligible individuals with relevant degrees or certifications to receive loan forgiveness in exchange for service in underserved areas.
- Requires participants to have a degree in medical laboratory science or equivalent qualifications.
- Medical Laboratory Personnel Education Program:
- Authorizes HHS to award grants or contracts to eligible entities (e.g., accredited nonprofit hospitals, allied health schools, or internship sponsors) for developing or operating education programs that grant associate's, bachelor's, graduate degrees, or certificates in medical laboratory science.
- Supports faculty recruitment and training.
- Prioritizes programs using innovative teaching methods, focusing on rural or underrepresented students, interprofessional collaboration, cultural competency (understanding diverse patient needs), and health literacy (clear communication of health information).
- Awards last up to 3 years, with $25 million authorized for the first full fiscal year after enactment, and ongoing funding as needed.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Amendments to Public Health Service Act:
- Expands Section 331(a) definitions to explicitly include medical laboratory personnel and services in NHSC, previously limited to primary care, mental health, and related fields.
- Adds a new subsection (l) to Section 332 for lab-specific target areas, mirroring but adapting maternity care provisions.
- Modifies Section 338B to add lab personnel to loan repayment eligibility, broadening qualifications beyond traditional health professions like medicine or dentistry.
- New Education Section:
- Inserts Section 779 after existing workforce development provisions, creating a dedicated program for lab personnel education—previously absent in the Act.
These changes build on NHSC's framework without overhauling it, focusing integration rather than replacement.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: HHS will need to allocate resources for program administration, area designations, and grant oversight, potentially increasing workload but leveraging existing NHSC infrastructure. Authorizes new federal spending, which could strain budgets if not fully funded.
- On Citizens: Improves healthcare access in underserved (e.g., rural or low-income) areas by ensuring more lab testing availability, reducing delays in diagnoses and treatments. May lower long-term healthcare costs through better workforce distribution.
- On International Relations: Minimal direct impact, as the bill focuses on domestic U.S. health workforce issues.
- Broader Effects: Could reduce lab-related bottlenecks in hospitals and clinics, enhancing public health responses to diseases or emergencies, though effectiveness depends on funding and participation.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Medical Laboratory Personnel: Students and workers gain access to loan repayment, service incentives, and training opportunities, potentially increasing career appeal and retention in underserved areas.
- Educational Institutions: Accredited schools, hospitals, and nonprofit programs benefit from grants for curriculum development and faculty hiring, especially those serving diverse or rural populations.
- Healthcare Providers and Facilities: Hospitals and clinics in target areas receive NHSC-assigned lab staff, addressing shortages and improving service delivery.
- Underserved Communities: Rural, low-income, or minority groups may see better lab services, promoting health equity.
- Federal Government: HHS and Congress manage implementation and funding, with taxpayers funding the programs.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal Implications: Strengthens federal authority under the Public Health Service Act to address workforce shortages via incentives, without creating new mandates on states or individuals. Authorizes appropriations, requiring congressional approval for funding—non-binding until budgeted. Ensures programs align with accreditation standards for professional certification.
- Constitutional Implications: Falls within Congress's enumerated powers to provide for the general welfare (Article I, Section 8), similar to other health workforce laws; no apparent conflicts with states' rights or free speech, as it uses voluntary incentives rather than coercion.
- Political Implications: Addresses a critical healthcare gap amid ongoing post-pandemic lab shortages, potentially garnering bipartisan support (introduced by Reps. Ross and Kiggans from different parties). Could influence future health policy by setting a precedent for including allied health roles in federal programs, though implementation success may depend on political priorities for funding.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Ross, Deborah K. [D-NC-2]
Cosponsors (2)
Rep. Kiggans, Jennifer A. [R-VA-2], Rep. Dingell, Debbie [D-MI-6]
Recent Actions
- 2025-09-17: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- 2025-09-17: Introduced in House
- 2025-09-17: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Medical Laboratory Personnel Shortage Relief Act of 2025 — issued 2025-09-17 — PDF (6 pages)