H.R. 2314: Fair Access In Residency Act

This legislation, known as the Fair Access In Residency Act, aims to enhance transparency and equity in the residency application process for medical candidates from both osteopathic and allopathic medical schools. Here’s a breakdown of the key components of the bill:

Amendments to the Social Security Act

The bill proposes modifications to Section 1886 of the Social Security Act, particularly concerning the requirements for hospitals with accredited medical residency training programs. The primary focus is on the submission of specific data related to residency applicants.

Required Information Submission

• Hospitals are required to report to the Secretary of Health and Human Services the following for each fiscal year starting from 2025:
  • The number of applicants for residency programs from both osteopathic and allopathic medical schools.
  • The number of such applicants who were accepted into the residency programs.
  • An affirmation that the hospital considers applicants from both medical school types for acceptance into their programs.
  • If applicable, a statement about their policy on examination scores, stating they accept scores from either the Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination or the United States Medical Licensing Examination.

Incentives for Compliance

Starting from October 1, 2026, hospitals that fail to report the required information may face a reduction in their Medicare reimbursement rates. Specifically, there will be a 2 percent reduction for each prior fiscal year they do not comply with the reporting requirements.

Public Accountability

The Secretary of Health and Human Services will publish the collected data on a public website, making the information accessible to the public. This aims to increase accountability among hospitals regarding their recruitment practices for residency programs.

Clarification on Federal Oversight

The bill explicitly states that it does not federalize medical education or impose any requirements mandating residency programs to accept a certain number of students from either type of medical school.

Objective

The main objective of the Fair Access In Residency Act is to promote fairness in the way residency applications are reviewed, thereby ensuring that graduates from both osteopathic and allopathic schools have equitable opportunities in securing residency positions.

Relevant Companies

None found