Physicians for Underserved Areas Act

House Bill

H.R. 870

119th Congress

Physicians for Underserved Areas Act

In Committee

Introduced:Jan 31, 2025

Primary Sponsor

Lauren Opal Boebert

Representative

Republican

CO-4

Cosponsors

1

Quick Stats

Policy Area

Health

Summary

This bill changes how residency positions are redistributed when teaching hospitals close. It removes the preference for hospitals in the same region and adjusts timelines, requiring hospitals to start using positions within two years and fill them within five years.

Latest Action

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.

AI Summary

Plain-English explanation of this bill

This bill changes how residency positions are redistributed when teaching hospitals close. It removes the preference for hospitals in the same region and adjusts timelines, requiring hospitals to start using positions within two years and fill them within five years.

Last updated: 1/5/2026

Official Summary

Congressional Research Service summary

Physicians for Underserved Areas Act This bill modifies how a hospital's residency positions are redistributed after it closes for purposes of graduate medical education payments under Medicare. Under current law, if a hospital with an approved medical residency program closes, the Centers for Medicare & 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. 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.

Key Points

Main provisions of the bill

Modifies redistribution of closed hospital residency slots
Removes regional priority for slot redistribution
Requires starting to use positions within two years
Requires filling positions within five years
Changes Medicare graduate medical education rules

How This Impacts Americans

Potential effects on citizens and communities

Medical residency positions from closed hospitals could more easily go to facilities outside the region, potentially benefiting underserved areas that need physicians. The timeline changes provide flexibility while ensuring positions are actually used.

Policy Areas

Primary Policy Area

Health

Related Subjects

Employee hiring

Health personnel

Medical education

Medicare

Scope & Jurisdiction

Jurisdiction Level

federal

Congressional Session

119th Congress

Citation Reference

870, 119th Congress (2025). "Physicians for Underserved Areas Act". Source: Voter's Right Platform. https://votersright.org/bills/118-hr-870