PHS ACCESS Act

This bill would let the Secretary of Health and Human Services assign (detail) Public Health Service Commissioned Corps officers to Urban Indian organizations to do work related to the department's functions. It would also change a current rule so that giving new appointees extra credit for length of service (constructive credit) becomes optional, at the Secretary's discretion, instead of required. The Secretary would have to create objective, transparent criteria for granting this credit, with preference for appointees who serve in rural or remote areas, fill workforce shortage specialties, serve areas with access-to-care challenges, or serve with Indian tribes or Urban Indian organizations. The Secretary would also have to review and update these criteria periodically.

Full text and official record on Congress.gov

Sponsors

• Lisa Murkowski Republican sponsor
• 3 cosponsors