Bill · S. 4416· Senate(119-S-4416)
PHS ACCESS Act
- Introduced
- 4/28/2026
- Last activity
- 4/28/2026 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
- Sponsored by
- Lisa Murkowski
- Cosponsors
- - 1 - 2
- 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
Would Native Americans be better off under this?+7
The bill provides specific mechanisms to detail officers to Urban Indian organizations, tribes, and tribal organizations.
Does this make health care easier to get in general?+6
The bill establishes preferences for service in areas with significant access to care challenges and workforce shortages.
Would people in rural areas be better off under this?+5
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
-
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).
-
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).
-
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. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Native Americans+7Good For Rural Residents+5Good For Low Income Households+3
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves Racial Equity+5Improves Poverty Reduction+2
- Healthcare
- Improves Healthcare Access+6
- Governance And Ideology
- Improves Government Transparency+3
- 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