Rural Medical Residency Expansion Act of 2021
Bill: H.R.4970 | Sponsor: Rep. O'Halleran, Tom (D-AZ)
Policy area: Health

Summary:
Rural Medical Residency Expansion Act of 2021
This bill establishes a grant program within the Department of Health and Human Services for hospitals and other health care facilities in rural areas to establish or expand medical residency training programs.

To direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a 
 grant program to encourage the development and expansion of approved 
          medical residency training programs in rural areas.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Rural Medical Residency Expansion 
Act of 2021''.

SEC. 2. GRANT PROGRAM TO ENCOURAGE THE DEVELOPMENT AND EXPANSION OF 
              APPROVED MEDICAL RESIDENCY TRAINING PROGRAMS IN RURAL 
              AREAS.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services (in 
this section referred to as the ``Secretary'') shall establish a 
program to be known as the Rural Medical Residency Expansion Grant 
Program (in this section referred to as the ``Program'') for purposes 
of awarding grants during the 10-year period beginning on such date to 
qualifying hospitals and entities (as defined in subsection (d)) to 
facilitate the development or expansion of approved medical residency 
training programs (as defined for purposes of section 1886(h) of the 
Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395ww(h))).
    (b) Application.--The Secretary may award grants under the Program 
only to a qualifying hospital that submits to the Secretary an 
application at such time, in such manner, and containing such 
information as may be specified by the Secretary. Such award shall be 
in an amount determined appropriate by the Secretary.
    (c) Use of Funds.--Funds made available to a qualifying hospital 
pursuant to a grant awarded under the Program may only be used by such 
hospital to--
            (1) develop an approved medical residency training program; 
        or
            (2) expand an existing such program.
    (d) Qualifying Hospital and Entity Defined.--For purposes of this 
section, the term ``qualifying hospital and entity'' means--
            (1) a hospital (as defined in section 1861 of the Social 
        Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x));
            (2) a critical access hospital (as so defined);
            (3) a sole community hospital (as defined in section 
        1886(d)(5)(D)(iii) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 
        1395ww(d)(5)(D)(iii)));
            (4) a rural emergency hospital (as defined in section 
        1861(kkk)(2) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x(kkk)(2))); or
            (5) an entity eligible for the Rural Residency Planning and 
        Development Program administered by the Health Resources & 
        Services Administration of the Department of Health and Human 
        Services.
    (e) Reporting.--
            (1) Initial report.--Not later than 1 year after the date 
        specified in subsection (a), the Secretary of Health and Human 
        Services shall submit to the Committee on Energy and Commerce 
        of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Health, 
        Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate on how many 
        qualifying hospitals and entities received funding under the 
        Program and how many new residents were trained as a result of 
        the Program.
            (2) Subsequent reports.--The Secretary of Health and Human 
        Services shall submit to such Committees a report that 
        identifies the practices of residents participating in the 
        Program (including whether such residents are practicing in a 
        rural area) 5 and 10 years after the report is submitted 
        pursuant to paragraph (1).
    (f) Funding.--There are authorized to be appropriated $100,000,000 
for the 10-year period beginning with the first calendar year in which 
the Program is established for purposes of carrying out this section.
                                 <all>