Article Title
A Need to Increase Access to Medicare-funded Physician Residency Slots
Abstract
This Congressional Brief from CPI builds on workforce development areas addressed by the Center for Health Disparities, and addresses the need to increase access to Medicare-funded physician residency slots Suggestions to federal policymakers are the following: Congress should encourage CMS to exclude geographically urban hospitals reclassified under Section 1886(d)(8)e of the Social Security Act from qualifying for the “greater than 50 percent rural training” requirement of a new Rural Track programs under Section 127 of the CAA 2021; Urban hospitals should, however, be able to fully participate in such programs as an urban partner of a rural hospital if the program is separately accredited; Over the remaining years of distribution, Congress should encourage CMS to prioritize outreach to rural hospitals on this opportunity to apply for residency slots; The fourth eligibility category under Section 126, should be expanded by CMS to refer to both geographic HPSAs and population HPSAs.