Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act of 2025
Rep. Sewell and Rep. Fitzpatrick Introduce Bill to Add 14,000 New Doctor Residency Spots
This bill is currently in the early stages of the legislative process and has been sent to two House committees for review. It is actively moving forward as it awaits further study by these groups. There are no upcoming votes scheduled at this time.
Passage Likelihood
Legislative Progress
Key Points
- This bill would add 14,000 new Medicare-funded residency training positions over seven years, with 2,000 new spots distributed each year from 2026 through 2032. These positions help hospitals train more doctors by raising the cap on how many residents Medicare will pay for.
From policy text
“the aggregate number of increases in the otherwise applicable resident limit under this subparagraph shall be equal to 2,000 in each such year.”
View in full text - One-third of the new positions each year are reserved for hospitals already training more residents than their current Medicare cap allows. These hospitals must train at least 25% of their residents in primary care and general surgery to qualify and must keep doing so for five years.
From policy text
“One-third of such number shall be available for distribution only to hospitals described in subparagraph (B).”
View in full text - At least 10% of remaining positions must go to each of four hospital categories: rural hospitals, hospitals already over their cap, hospitals in states with new medical schools, and hospitals in areas designated as health professional shortage areas.
From policy text
“the Secretary shall distribute not less than 10 percent of such aggregate number to each of the following categories of hospitals”
View in full text - Hospitals in health professional shortage areas that are affiliated with Historically Black Medical Schools get top priority when positions are handed out. Six HBCUs are specifically named in the bill, including Howard University and Morehouse School of Medicine.
- The bill authorizes $12.7 million per year for five years to create new rural residency training programs and provide technical assistance for starting them. These programs must train residents in rural areas for more than half their residency time.
From policy text
“There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $12,700,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030.”
View in full text - The Government Accountability Office would study strategies to increase diversity in the health workforce, focusing on professionals from rural, lower-income, and underrepresented minority communities, and report to Congress within two years.
Impact Analysis
Personal Impact
Milestones
Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Sent to a congressional committee for expert review. The committee decides whether this bill moves forward.
Introduced in House
The bill was officially filed and given a number. It now enters the legislative queue.
Related News
4 articlesNew bipartisan legislation takes aim at the physician shortage
The Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act of 2025 would add 14,000 Medicare-supported graduate medical education (GME) slots over a seven-year period, with the first round of positions becoming available in fiscal year 2026. The bill also codifies the Rural Residency Planning and Development.
Critical Physician Shortage Looms Over Central New York
Local health leaders are pointing to the newly introduced Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act of 2025 as a vital solution. The bill would add 14,000 Medicare GME positions over seven years, targeting areas with critical shortages such as primary care and psychiatry in regions like CNY.
AHA-supported bills would add 14,000 Medicare-funded residency positions
The AHA expressed support for the Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act (H.R. 4731 /S. 2439), which would direct new slots to rural hospitals, hospitals training above their resident caps, and those serving health professional shortage areas, with priority for Historically Black Medical Schools.
Source Information
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act of 2025
Data Sources
Sponsor
Cosponsors
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