HR6211-119

What This Bill Does

The Medical Professional Access Act adds a new title 41 chapter on licensure of health care professionals serving under Federal contracts. During a federally declared emergency, a licensed, registered, or certified health care professional may provide services under a Federal contract or subcontract at any location in any State, the District of Columbia, or a U.S. territory or possession, notwithstanding State licensure laws, if the services are within the authorized contract duties. Covered emergencies include Stafford Act emergencies or major disasters, HHS public health emergencies, and other national emergencies or crises requiring a Federal response when certified in a Federal Register notice by an executive department head. The bill defines health care professional broadly as an individual licensed, registered, or certified under Federal or State law to provide health care services.

Who Benefits and How

Federally contracted health care professionals benefit because they can deploy across State and territorial lines during covered emergencies without obtaining a separate local license. Federal emergency response contractors benefit from a larger deployable clinical workforce for disaster and public health emergency contracts. Patients receiving federally contracted emergency care benefit from faster staffing when emergencies cross licensing jurisdictions. FEMA and HHS response programs benefit from clearer authority to use contracted medical staff across States and territories.

Who Bears the Burden and How

State medical licensing boards lose some ability to enforce State-specific licensure limits against federally contracted emergency clinicians. Federal contracting officers must verify that deployed services are within contract or subcontract duties and tied to a covered emergency. Health care professionals must stay within their authorized contract scope to rely on the portability rule. Hospitals receiving Federal emergency contractors must coordinate credentialing and supervision around the Federal portability rule.

Key Provisions

• Creates licensure portability for health care professionals serving under Federal contracts or subcontracts during federally declared emergencies.
• Preempts State licensure limits only when services are within authorized Federal contract duties.
• Defines federally declared emergency to include Stafford Act emergencies, HHS public health emergencies, and certified national crises.
• Adds a new title 41 chapter and table entry for the portability rule.