Bill Summary
The "Medical Laboratory Personnel Shortage Relief Act of 2025" aims to address the growing shortage of medical laboratory personnel in the United States by amending the Public Health Service Act. Key provisions of the legislation include:
1. **Inclusion in National Health Service Corps**: The Act expands the definition of eligible health professionals within the National Health Service Corps to include medical laboratory personnel. This encompasses individuals in training and those currently employed in various laboratory roles, such as phlebotomists and laboratory technicians.
2. **Designating Target Areas**: The legislation directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to identify "medical laboratory health professional target areas" where there is a need for laboratory personnel, ensuring that members of the National Health Service Corps can be assigned to these underserved regions.
3. **Loan Repayment Programs**: The Act includes provisions for loan repayment assistance for medical laboratory personnel, similar to existing programs for other health professionals, thereby incentivizing careers in medical laboratory science.
4. **Education Program Support**: It establishes a Medical Laboratory Personnel Education Program that allows the Secretary to grant funds to eligible entities for the development and operation of accredited educational programs in medical laboratory science. Priorities for funding are given to innovative programs, those serving rural or disadvantaged populations, and those promoting cultural competency.
The legislation aims to enhance the training, recruitment, and retention of medical laboratory professionals, ultimately improving healthcare delivery and access in underserved areas.
Possible Impacts
Here are three examples of how the "Medical Laboratory Personnel Shortage Relief Act of 2025" could affect people:
1. **Increased Access to Healthcare Services**:
By including medical laboratory personnel in the National Health Service Corps programs, the Act aims to address personnel shortages in medical laboratories, particularly in underserved areas. This means that more qualified laboratory professionals, such as lab technicians and phlebotomists, will be available to conduct essential tests and diagnostics. As a result, patients in areas facing shortages will have better access to timely diagnosis and treatment, ultimately leading to improved health outcomes.
2. **Expanded Educational Opportunities**:
The establishment of a Medical Laboratory Personnel Education Program will provide funding for accredited educational programs focused on training laboratory personnel. This could lead to an increase in the number of individuals entering the field, particularly those from rural or disadvantaged backgrounds. With more educational opportunities, individuals will be able to gain the skills needed to work in medical laboratories, which can help reduce the shortage of qualified personnel and contribute to job creation in the healthcare sector.
3. **Loan Repayment Incentives for Laboratory Professionals**:
The Act includes provisions for a loan repayment program aimed at medical laboratory personnel, similar to existing programs for other healthcare professionals. By offering financial incentives for individuals to work in high-need areas, the Act encourages more medical laboratory professionals to enter the field and remain in underserved regions. This can help address the workforce shortage while also alleviating the financial burden of education for those pursuing careers in medical laboratory science.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5444 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 5444
To amend the Public Health Service Act to address the shortage of
medical laboratory personnel, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
September 17, 2025
Ms. Ross (for herself and Mrs. Kiggans of Virginia) introduced the
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and
Commerce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Public Health Service Act to address the shortage of
medical laboratory personnel, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Medical Laboratory Personnel
Shortage Relief Act of 2025''.
SEC. 2. INCLUDING MEDICAL LABORATORY PERSONNEL AND SERVICES IN NATIONAL
HEALTH SERVICE CORPS PROGRAMS.
(a) Definition.--Section 331(a) of the Public Health Service Act
(42 U.S.C. 254d(a)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (3)(D), by striking ``or mental health''
and inserting ``mental health, or medical laboratory
services''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
``(F) The term `medical laboratory personnel'--
``(i) means individuals--
``(I) seeking or receiving training in an
accredited medical laboratory science program;
or
``(II) employed in a position in which the
individual examines materials derived from the
human body for the purpose of providing
information for the diagnosis, prevention, or
treatment of a disease or impairment of human
beings; and
``(ii) includes phlebotomists, medical laboratory
assistants, histotechnologists, laboratory scientists,
laboratory technicians, and genetic counselors.''.
(b) Medical Laboratory Health Professional Target Areas.--Section
332 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 254e) is amended by
adding at the end the following:
``(l) Medical Laboratory Health Professional Target Areas.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall carry out a program
of--
``(A) identifying medical laboratory health
professional target areas; and
``(B) assigning members of the Corps who are
medical laboratory personnel to such areas.
``(2) Applicable provisions.--The provisions of paragraphs
(1), (2), (3), (4), and (6) of subsection (k) shall apply to
the identification of medical laboratory health professional
target areas and the assignment of medical laboratory personnel
under this subsection except that--
``(A) references to maternity care health
professional target areas shall be treated as
references to medical laboratory health professional
target areas; and
``(B) references to maternity care health
professionals and maternity care shall be treated as
references to medical laboratory personnel and medical
laboratory services, respectively.''.
(c) Loan Repayment Program.--Section 338B of the Public Health
Service Act (42 U.S.C. 254l-1) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)(1), by inserting ``medical laboratory
personnel,'' after ``dentists,''; and
(2) in subsection (b)--
(A) by striking ``an individual must--'' and all
that follows through ``or physician assistant;'' and
inserting the following: ``an individual must--
``(1)(A)(i) have a degree in medicine, osteopathic
medicine, dentistry, or another health profession, or an
appropriate degree from a graduate program of behavioral and
mental health;
``(ii) be certified as a nurse midwife, nurse practitioner,
or physician assistant; or
``(iii) have a degree in medical laboratory science;'';
(B) in paragraph (1)(B), by inserting ``medical
laboratory science,'' after ``mental health,''; and
(C) in paragraph (1)(C)(ii), by inserting ``medical
laboratory science,'' after ``dentistry,''.
SEC. 3. MEDICAL LABORATORY PERSONNEL EDUCATION PROGRAM.
The Public Health Service Act is amended by inserting after section
778 (42 U.S.C. 295f-3) the following:
``SEC. 779. MEDICAL LABORATORY PERSONNEL EDUCATION PROGRAM.
``(a) In General.--The Secretary may make grants to, or enter into
contracts with, eligible entities that the Secretary has determined are
capable of carrying out such grant or contract--
``(1) to plan, develop, operate, or participate in an
accredited medical laboratory professional education program
that awards an associate's, bachelor's, or graduate degree or
certificate; and
``(2) to recruit, train, and develop faculty for such
program.
``(b) Priorities in Making Awards.--In awarding grants and
contracts under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall give priority to
eligible entities that--
``(1) utilize innovative approaches to clinical teaching;
``(2) are committed to training individuals from rural,
underrepresented, or disadvantaged backgrounds;
``(3) teach collaboration among health professionals; or
``(4) provide training in cultural competency and health
literacy.
``(c) Duration of Awards.--A grant or contract awarded under this
subsection shall be for a period of 3 years.
``(d) Eligible Entity Defined.--In this section, the term `eligible
entity' means an accredited nonprofit hospital, school of allied
health, or nonprofit entity that sponsors accredited internship
programs required for professional certification.
``(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section--
``(1) $25,000,000 for the first full fiscal year beginning
after the date of enactment of this Act; and
``(2) such sums as may be necessary for subsequent fiscal
years.''.
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