Rural Medicare clinics could swap physician rule for PAs, NPs
In committeeH.R. 5199Latest action
Sponsor: Tracey Mann · Representative · KS
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Official title: Modernizing Rural Physician Assistant and Nurse Practitioner Utilization Act of 2025
119th Congress
Topics: Health care
Introduced:
Read the official bill on Congress.govIn plain words
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Starting in 2027, rural health clinics can use a physician assistant or nurse practitioner — not just a doctor — to meet Medicare's staffing rule.
40-second read · 4 questions answered below
What does this do?
Medicare currently requires certain rural health clinics to have a formal arrangement with a physician to qualify for coverage. This bill allows clinics that are not physician-directed to instead have that arrangement with a physician assistant or nurse practitioner, as long as it follows state law. The change takes effect January 1, 2027.
Who does it affect?
This affects rural health clinics that are not physician-directed, the physician assistants and nurse practitioners who work in them, and patients in rural communities who rely on those clinics.
Why does it matter?
Clinics that cannot secure a physician arrangement currently may not qualify for Medicare coverage. Under the new rule, those same clinics could meet the requirement through a PA or NP instead.
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Where does it stand?
- IntroducedSep 8, 2025
- House committeeYou are here · Sep 8, 2025
- House vote
- Senate
- The president's desk
Right now: a House committee is reviewing it. If the Senate changes it, it goes back to the House before reaching the president.
Latest action: — Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.