H.R. 870: Physicians for Underserved Areas Act

This bill is known as the Physicians for Underserved Areas Act. It proposes changes to the way residency slots for medical training are redistributed under the Medicare program when a hospital closes. Here’s a breakdown of the key points of the bill:

Redistribution of Residency Slots

The bill aims to improve the redistribution process of residency slots for medical doctors when a hospital shuts down. Specifically, the changes focus on how these residency positions are allocated based on the following:

• It modifies the criteria for considering hospitals when evaluating the redistribution of residency slots after closure.
• It emphasizes the likelihood of using the residency slots within a set timeframe—within 2 years for starting to utilize the positions and within 5 years for filling those positions.

Amendments to Existing Legislation

The bill makes specific amendments to the existing Social Security Act, particularly Section 1886(h)(4)(H)(vi). The adjustments include:

• Changing the designation of certain items within the legislative text to update the process for residency slot redistribution.
• Refining the language regarding the likelihood of hospitals filling the available residency positions based on the timelines mentioned above.

Effective Date

The amendments proposed in this bill will apply to residency slots related to hospitals that close on or after the date when the bill becomes law.

Relevant Companies

None found.