Locum Tenens Independent Contractor Classification (HR1160)
Current understanding
The Health Care Provider Shortage Minimization Act of 2025 (HR1160) proposes to grant statutory independent-contractor status, for federal tax purposes, to qualified locum tenens physicians and advanced care practitioners engaged through staffing arrangements. If enacted, this would settle worker-classification uncertainty in the locum tenens segment: providers would consistently owe self-employment tax and receive 1099 reporting, while hospitals and staffing firms would avoid W-2 payroll tax and benefits obligations for these engagements. Status: introduced, referred to committee.
Evidence log
- 2025-09-16 — Rural Veterans’ Improved Access to Benefits Act of 2025: cross-connection with va-contract-disability-exam-pilot: Both involve federal preemption of state licensure/classification rules to expand a contract clinical workforce. (novelty: 2)
- 2025-09-30 — Health Care Workforce Expansion Act of 2025: cross-connection with healthcare-workforce: Both address physician workforce shortages: the Health Care Workforce Expansion Act expands GME residency slots and service-obligated tuition grants, while the locum tenens classification bill reshapes contingent-clinician staffing tax treatment. (novelty: 2)
- 2025-02-10 — Health Care Provider Shortage Minimization Act of 2025: cross-connection with healthcare-workforce: Locum tenens classification policy shapes the supply and cost structure of contingent physician/APP labor feeding the broader healthcare workforce pipeline. (novelty: 3)