Bill would strip federal wage and union rights from temporary fill-in doctors
In committeeH.R. 8272Latest action
Sponsor: Burgess Owens · Representative · UT
AIDecoded by AI · checked against the recordRead the official text
Official title: To classify qualified locum tenens professionals and advanced care practitioners as independent contractors for the purposes of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 and the National Labor Relations Act.
119th Congress
Topics: Jobs & the economy
Introduced:
Read the official bill on Congress.govIn plain words
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HR 8272 would classify locum tenens healthcare workers as independent contractors, removing federal wage and union protections.
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What does this do?
HR 8272 would automatically classify locum tenens workers — temporary doctors, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and certified registered nurse anesthetists — as independent contractors under the Fair Labor Standards Act and the National Labor Relations Act. To qualify, these workers must have a written contract stating they will not be treated as employees. Assignments typically last up to one year at a time.
Who does it affect?
The bill directly affects temporary healthcare workers who fill staffing gaps at hospitals, clinics, and other medical facilities, as well as the healthcare facilities and staffing agencies that hire them.
Why does it matter?
Workers in these temporary roles would no longer have access to federal minimum wage and overtime protections or the right to form unions and bargain collectively under these two laws. Healthcare facilities and staffing agencies would gain clearer legal standing to hire these workers without providing employee benefits or recognizing union organizing efforts, and patients could be indirectly affected if the rules alter healthcare staffing and availability.
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Where does it stand?
- IntroducedApr 14, 2026
- House committeeYou are here · Apr 14, 2026
- 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 House Committee on Education and Workforce.