This bill creates a new federal program that pays hospitals to train advanced practice registered nurses—which includes nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, nurse anesthetists, and nurse-midwives—in clinical settings. The program works by having hospitals partner with nursing schools and community healthcare facilities like clinics, urgent care centers, and nursing homes to provide hands-on training for these nurses.

Hospitals that participate get reimbursed based on how many advanced practice nurses they train, with the payment amount adjusted each year for inflation. To qualify, hospitals must have formal agreements with nursing schools and at least two community-based healthcare partners, and they must have a governance structure that includes nursing schools in leadership. The program focuses on training nurses to work in underserved areas and rural communities where there are shortages of healthcare providers.

The bill requires participating hospitals to report annually on their training programs, including how many nurses graduated, where those nurses ended up working, and whether they're serving areas with healthcare shortages. The federal government will fund this through Medicare's trust funds, and hospitals must use this money to supplement—not replace—other funding sources. Two years after the program starts, the Secretary of Health and Human Services must report to Congress on how well the program is working and suggest any improvements needed.

Educating Future Nurses Act

Educating Future Nurses Act This bill establishes a permanent National Graduate Nurse Education Program to provide clinical training to advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs), particularly with respect to services for Medicare beneficiaries. (The Centers for Medicare &amp; Medicaid Services conducted a similar demonstration program from 2012-2016.) Under the program, hospitals may receive payments for the costs associated with providing clinical education to APRNs. Hospitals must partner with nursing schools, regional hospitals or health systems, or non-hospital community providers (e.g., nursing homes) to provide qualifying clinical education. Such education must consist of clinical experience in primary, preventive, transitional, acute, and chronic care, as well as other services that are appropriate for Medicare beneficiaries; at least half of this education must be provided in non-hospital, community-based settings. Participating hospitals must report annually on their programs, subject to payment reductions.