Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act of 2025
Rep. Sewell and Rep. Fitzpatrick Introduce Bill to Add 14,000 New Doctor Residency Slots
This bill is currently in the early stages of the legislative process and is being reviewed by two House committees. It is actively moving forward as it waits for these committees to finish their work. There are no upcoming votes scheduled at this time.
Passage Likelihood
Legislative Progress
Key Points
- The bill adds 14,000 new Medicare-funded residency positions over seven years, distributing 2,000 slots per year from fiscal years 2026 through 2032. If all positions are not filled by 2032, the program continues until the full 14,000 are distributed.
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, helping cover costs they are absorbing on their own.
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 percent of positions must go to rural hospitals and another 10 percent to hospitals serving health professional shortage areas. Priority within shortage areas goes to hospitals affiliated with Historically Black Medical Schools.
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 receiving new slots must agree to actually increase their total number of residency positions. Each hospital is generally capped at 75 new slots across this program and recent prior expansions to spread positions across many institutions.
From policy text
“a hospital may not receive more than 75 full-time equivalent additional residency positions in the aggregate under this paragraph, paragraph (9), and paragraph (10) over the period of fiscal years 2026 through 2032.”
View in full text - The bill requires the Government Accountability Office to study and report on strategies for increasing the diversity of the health workforce, including approaches to recruit more professionals from rural, low-income, and underrepresented minority communities.
Impact Analysis
Personal Impact
Milestones
Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, 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
5 articlesNew bipartisan legislation takes aim at the physician shortage
The Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act of 2025 proposes 14,000 new Medicare-supported GME slots over seven years, starting in 2026. The bill prioritizes rural hospitals, new medical schools, and Health Professional Shortage Areas, with a cap of 75 new positions per hospital.
Bipartisan Bill Introduced to Expand Residency Slots and Alleviate Physician Shortages
Introduced by Reps. Terri Sewell and Brian Fitzpatrick, this legislation seeks to combat the national physician shortage by increasing Medicare-funded residency positions by 14,000 over seven years. It ensures at least 10% of new positions are allocated to hospitals in rural areas.
Pros And Cons Of The 2025 Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act
The bill intends to add 14,000 new Medicare-funded resident doctor positions over seven years. While the expansion is seen as a critical step, analysts warn that without structural reform, new slots might still favor urban specialties over rural and primary care counterparts.
Source Information
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act of 2025
Data Sources
Sponsor
Cosponsors
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