Bill
H 1377
Establishes a 24-month NP residency at CHCs to train and retain nurse practitioners, with 18-month CHC employment post-residency and funding of at least $2.5M annually.
Status and Schedule
- Hearing: May 12, 2025, 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM, Gardner Auditorium
- Introduced: February 27, 2025
- Referred to: Health Care Financing (02/27/2025)
- House Docket: No. 1377 (Filed 1/14/2025; related draft House No. 1444)
- Notable related: Similar matter previously filed in 2023-2024 as House 1210
Purpose and intention
- Create a state-backed residency program to recruit and retain nurse practitioners (NPs) at community health centers (CHCs) and to expand access to high-quality, community-based primary, preventative, and integrated care.
- Aligns with efforts to bolster the primary care workforce and improve patient access in CHCs.
What the bill would do (Key provisions)
- Establishment of a 24-month NP residency program
- Administered by community health centers that receive a grant under 42 USC 254b.
- Targets certified NPs who have graduated from an accredited school of nursing within the past three years.
- Training and supervision
- Participants will manage patient panels under supervision and mentorship of a physician or another advanced practice registered nurse at a CHC.
- Employment commitment
- NP residents must enter into a contract with the CHC for at least 18 months of employment after completing the residency.
- Licensure compatibility
- Provisions explicitly intend not to conflict with, replace, or supersede licensure requirements or standards for advanced nursing practice established under chapters 94C or 112.
- Funding and reimbursement
- The Division (Massachusetts Division of Health Care Finance and Policy) must expend no less than $2,500,000 annually to support the program.
- The Division shall seek federal Medicaid reimbursement for the program as graduate medical education (GME).
- Regulation and implementation timeline
- The Division must promulgate regulations to implement the program, including details and grant guidelines, within six months of passage.
Who is affected
- Primary beneficiaries: Certified nurse practitioners who recently graduated and are seeking postgraduate residency opportunities.
- CHCs: Institutions hosting the residency and employing program participants, with supervision by physicians or APRNs.
- Patients: Expect improved access to primary, preventive, and integrated care at CHCs through expanded NP capacity and stronger NP retention.
Administrative and fiscal considerations
- Funding level: Minimum annual investment of $2.5 million.
- Regulatory framework: New regulatory structure to govern program details, oversight, and grant administration within six months after enactment.
- Federal alignment: Positioning for Medicaid GME reimbursement to support sustainability.
Impact and scope
- Aimed at strengthening the CHC NP workforce, increasing clinician retention, and expanding access to high-quality community-based care.
- Long-term effects depend on successful implementation, regulatory guidance, and the ability to attract and retain NPs in CHCs.
Notes
- This bill is part of a broader effort to support community health infrastructure and aligns with workforce development in primary care. Related matter previously filed as House 1210 (2023-2024) and other cross-chamber considerations.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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