Physicians for Underserved Areas Act

Bill: 119-s-1044
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Rosen, Jacky [D-NV]
Introduced: 2025-03-13
Policy area: Health
Latest action: action_date: 2025-03-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Summaries:
action_date: 2025-03-13
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><strong>Physicians for Underserved Areas Act</strong></p><p>This bill modifies how a hospital's residency positions are redistributed after it closes for purposes of graduate medical education payments under Medicare.</p><p>Under current law, if a hospital with an approved medical residency program closes, the Centers for Medicare &amp; Medicaid Services (CMS) must redistribute the hospital's residency positions to other hospitals in the following order: (1) hospitals in the same core-based statistical area as the closed hospital, (2) hospitals in the same state as the closed hospital, (3) hospitals in the same region of the country as the closed hospital, and (4) other remaining hospitals. In order to receive the additional positions, hospitals must demonstrate a likelihood of filling the positions within three years.</p><p>The bill removes the requirement that the CMS prioritize hospitals in the same region of the country as the closed hospital. It also requires hospitals to demonstrate a likelihood of (1) starting to use the positions within two years, and (2) filling the positions within five years.</p>

tv_txt: II 119th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 1044 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES March 13, 2025 Ms. Rosen (for herself and Mr. Boozman ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance A BILL To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to make improvements to the redistribution of residency slots under the Medicare program after a hospital closes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Physicians for Underserved Areas Act . 2. Improvements to the redistribution of residency slots under the Medicare program after a hospital closes (a) In general Section 1886(h)(4)(H)(vi) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395ww(h)(4)(H)(vi) ) is amended— (1) in subclause (II)— (A) by striking item (cc) and redesignating item (dd) as item (cc); and (B) in item (cc), as redesignated under subparagraph (A)— (i) by striking Fourth and inserting Third ; and (ii) by striking item (cc) and inserting item (bb) ; and (2) in subclause (III), by striking likelihood of filling and all that follows and inserting the following: “likelihood of— (aa) starting to utilize the positions made available under this clause within 2 years; and (bb) filling the positions made available under this clause within 5 years. . (b) Effective date The amendments made by subsection (a) shall apply to the redistribution of residency slots with respect to hospitals that close on or after the date of enactment of this Act.