A Republican bill with 2 Democratic cosponsors · See all 3 cosponsors
Last activity — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill, known as the "PHS ACCESS Act," aims to create procedures for detailing Public Health Service Commissioned Corps officers to help advance care in underserved communities. It allows the Secretary to detail these officers to Urban Indian organizations to work on functions related to the Department of Health and Human Services. Additionally, the bill modifies how personnel appointments work by giving the Secretary discretion and requiring the creation of specific criteria for service credit. These criteria would prioritize certain types of service to ensure help reaches those who need it most.
Yes· 3 of 7
- Scored +7
Would Native Americans be better off under this?
The bill provides specific mechanisms to detail officers to Urban Indian organizations, tribes, and tribal organizations.
- Scored +6
Does this make health care easier to get in general?
The bill establishes preferences for service in areas with significant access to care challenges and workforce shortages.
- Scored +5
Would people in rural areas be better off under this?
The bill creates service credit preferences for those serving in rural or remote agencies.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Support for Urban Indian Communities: The Secretary may detail officers to Urban Indian organizations to conduct work related to the functions of the Department of Health and Human Services (Section 2).
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Preference for High-Need Areas: The Secretary is directed to create criteria that give preference to appointees serving in rural or remote agencies where the Service is required to provide help (Section 2).
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Targeted Medical Expertise: The criteria will prioritize specialists who work in areas facing demonstrated workforce shortages (Section 2).
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Improved Access to Care: The new criteria will give preference to those serving in areas that face significant challenges in accessing care (Section 2).
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Tribal and Urban Indian Support: The bill establishes preference for those serving with an Indian tribe, tribal organization, or Urban Indian organization (Section 2).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Increased Discretionary Power: The amendment changes the requirement for personnel appointments from "shall" to "may, at the discretion of the Secretary," which moves away from a mandatory requirement (Section 2).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would Native Americans be better off under this? — The bill provides specific mechanisms to detail officers to Urban Indian organizations, tribes, and tribal organizations. Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — The bill creates service credit preferences for those serving in rural or remote agencies. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — The bill aims to advance care in underserved communities which often have higher concentrations of low-income households.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this narrow racial gaps in how people are treated? — The bill prioritizes the detailing of officers to Urban Indian organizations and tribal entities. Is this likely to lift people out of poverty? — By improving healthcare access in underserved areas, the bill may help mitigate some socio-economic barriers.
- Healthcare
- Does this make health care easier to get in general? — The bill establishes preferences for service in areas with significant access to care challenges and workforce shortages.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill requires the Secretary to develop objective and transparent criteria for service credit.
- 4/28/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
- 3 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in Senate
Catherine Cortez MastoDemocrat · Nevada
Christopher MurphyDemocrat · Connecticut
Thomas TillisRepublican · North Carolina