H.R. 5444: Medical Laboratory Personnel Shortage Relief Act of 2025

This bill, known as the Medical Laboratory Personnel Shortage Relief Act of 2025, aims to address the shortage of medical laboratory personnel in the United States by implementing several key changes to existing health programs and entitlements. Below are the main provisions of the bill:

Inclusion of Medical Laboratory Personnel in National Health Programs

The bill amends the Public Health Service Act to include medical laboratory personnel and services within the National Health Service Corps programs. This amendment recognizes medical laboratory services as vital, alongside mental health services, in ensuring comprehensive healthcare.

Definition of Medical Laboratory Personnel

It provides a clear definition of medical laboratory personnel, encompassing individuals who are:

• receiving training in accredited medical laboratory science programs, or
• employed in roles that involve examining materials from the human body for diagnostic, preventive, or treatment purposes.

This definition includes various specialists such as phlebotomists, medical laboratory assistants, histotechnologists, laboratory scientists, laboratory technicians, and genetic counselors.

Identifying and Assigning Medical Laboratory Personnel

The bill requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to undertake a program to:

• Identify areas where there are shortages of medical laboratory professionals.
• Assign members of the National Health Service Corps who are trained as medical laboratory personnel to these critical areas.

Loan Repayment Program for Medical Laboratory Personnel

It expands the existing loan repayment program that benefits various health professionals by including medical laboratory personnel. This means that individuals in this field can receive financial support to repay student loans in exchange for working in underserved areas.

Medical Laboratory Personnel Education Program

The bill introduces a new funding initiative whereby the Secretary may provide grants or contracts to approved entities to:

• Establish and manage accredited medical laboratory professional education programs.
• Train faculty for these educational programs.

Priority for funding will be given to programs that apply innovative teaching methods, focus on training individuals from underrepresented groups, promote collaboration in healthcare professions, or provide training in cultural competency and health literacy.

Funding Authorization

The bill authorizes $25 million for the first full fiscal year following its enactment, with additional funds as needed for subsequent years to support the initiatives outlined in the bill.

Overall Purpose

The overarching intent of the Medical Laboratory Personnel Shortage Relief Act of 2025 is to alleviate the shortage of skilled laboratory professionals, enhance access to diagnostic services, and improve health outcomes by effectively integrating laboratory services into the broader healthcare framework.

Relevant Companies

• BDX (Becton, Dickinson and Company) - A major player in medical technology, BDX could be directly impacted as the demand for medical laboratory personnel rises, potentially increasing the need for their medical devices and laboratory equipment.
• ABT (Abbott Laboratories) - As a health care company that develops medical devices and laboratory practices, Abbott might see impacts in the demand for its diagnostic division associated with increased services due to the personnel shortage relief.