Reps. Pettersen and Molinaro Introduce Bipartisan Rural Health Preceptor Tax Fairness Act

As health care workforce shortages persist throughout the country and PA programs continue to face difficulties in securing clinical training sites for students, PAEA has remained committed to identifying policy solutions that address these challenges. One innovative solution that policymakers have pioneered in recent years is the establishment of tax incentives for clinical preceptors.  

While tax incentives have solely been adopted at the state level, the Association along with our advocacy supporters have continuously pursued an analogous preceptor tax incentive at the federal level. In June, a critical first step toward this goal was achieved with the introduction of the bipartisan Rural Health Preceptor Tax Fairness Act sponsored by Representatives Brittany Pettersen (D-CO) and Marc Molinaro (R-NY). 

The Rural Health Preceptor Tax Fairness Act, modeled after Colorado’s successful rural preceptor tax incentive, would create a $1,000 non-refundable federal tax credit for preceptors to train health professions students in rural areas. This legislation will not only benefit PA programs by alleviating the financial burden of preceptor recruitment but will also improve access to care for rural communities. By exposing students to rural settings in their clinical year, the likelihood of students practicing in rural areas increases significantly. 

To promote its enactment, PAEA will pursue advocacy efforts on behalf of the bill throughout the year, beginning with the launch of a new email campaign via PAEA’s Grassroots Action Network. If you are committed to improving PA education as well as access to care for vulnerable patients, contact your elected representatives in Congress and tell them to support the Rural Health Preceptor Tax Fairness Act.  

Members with questions about this legislation or future advocacy opportunities are invited to contact Catherine Majewski at cmajewski@PAEAonline.org.