Federal

Physicians for Underserved Areas Act

Source: Congress.gov · 404 words in original text

What This Bill Does

This bill changes how the Medicare program redistributes residency slots when a hospital closes. Residency slots are training positions for doctors in their early career stages. The bill modifies the rules that govern which hospitals can receive these available positions.

Who It Affects

Hospitals that close after this bill becomes law. Hospitals that receive redistributed residency slots. Doctor residents and training programs under Medicare.

Key Provisions

• The bill removes one criterion from the redistribution process and renumbers the remaining criteria (Sec. 2(a)(1)). • Hospitals seeking residency slots must show they are likely to start using the positions within 2 years (Sec. 2(a)(2)). • Hospitals seeking residency slots must show they are likely to fill the positions completely within 5 years (Sec. 2(a)(2)).

What Changes

The process for determining which hospitals get redistribution slots changes. Instead of the old criteria, hospitals must meet a two-part test showing they can begin using positions quickly (within 2 years) and fill them completely within a longer timeframe (within 5 years).

Important Definitions

Residency slots: Training positions for physicians in the Medicare program. Not specified in bill text for other specialized terms.

Effective Date

This bill applies to the redistribution of residency slots for hospitals that close on or after the date the bill becomes law (Sec. 2(b)).

II 118TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION S. 703 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. IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES MARCH 8, 2023 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. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa- 1 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 2 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 3 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Physicians for Under- 4 served Areas Act’’. 5 VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:31 Mar 16, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S703.IS S703 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 2 •S 703 IS SEC. 2. IMPROVEMENTS TO THE REDISTRIBUTION OF RESI- 1 DENCY SLOTS UNDER THE MEDICARE PRO- 2 GRAM AFTER A HOSPITAL CLOSES. 3 (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 1886(h)(4)(H)(vi) of the 4 Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395ww(h)(4)(H)(vi)) is 5 amended— 6 (1) in subclause (II)— 7 (A) by striking item (cc) and redesignating 8 item (dd) as item (cc); and 9 (B) in item (cc), as redesignated under 10 subparagraph (A)— 11 (i) by striking ‘‘Fourth’’ and inserting 12 ‘‘Third’’; and 13 (ii) by striking ‘‘item (cc)’’ and insert- 14 ing ‘‘item (bb)’’; and 15 (2) in subclause (III), by striking ‘‘likelihood of 16 filling’’ and all that follows and inserting the fol- 17 lowing: ‘‘likelihood of— 18 ‘‘(aa) starting to utilize the 19 positions made available under 20 this clause within 2 years; and 21 ‘‘(bb) filling the positions 22 made available under this clause 23 within 5 years.’’. 24 (b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by 25 subsection (a) shall apply to the redistribution of residency 26 VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:31 Mar 16, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S703.IS S703 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 3 •S 703 IS slots with respect to hospitals that close on or after the 1 date of enactment of this Act. 2 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:31 Mar 16, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\S703.IS S703 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS

Important: This plain English summary was generated by AI and is provided for informational purposes only. It is not legal advice. Always consult the official bill text on Congress.gov or a qualified attorney for legal matters.