Rep. Earl L. Carter, US Representative for Georgia's 1st District | Official U.S. House headshot
Rep. Earl L. Carter, US Representative for Georgia's 1st District | Official U.S. House headshot
Reps. Earl L. “Buddy” Carter, Neal Dunn, Claudia Tenney, Dan Crenshaw, and Randy Weber have introduced a new bill in Washington, D.C., named the Health Care Provider Shortage Minimization Act. This legislation aims to address the shortage of healthcare professionals by ensuring that underserved and rural communities can retain skilled healthcare providers.
Hospitals frequently depend on locum tenens—temporary physicians and practitioners—to fill staffing gaps. These gaps arise due to various reasons such as permanent staff taking vacations or maternity leave, long-term commitments, or ongoing workforce shortages. The proposed act seeks to formally recognize locum tenens as independent contractors, enabling them to continue offering their services across the nation.
"All Americans, regardless of zip code, deserve access to high-quality medical care," stated Rep. Carter. "By allowing locum tenens to maintain their status as independent contractors, we will be able to keep skilled doctors in the workforce and support patients nationwide."
According to a 2019 study, about 85% of hospitals and other healthcare facilities have utilized locum tenens doctors.
The full text of the bill is available for review.
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