The American College of Radiology® (ACR®)-supported bill, the Physician Shortage Reduction Act, was reintroduced [March 29] in the U.S. House of Representatives by Reps. Terri Sewell (D-Ala.), and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.). This bipartisan bill would gradually expand the number of Medicare-supported medical residency positions by 14,000 over seven years. The legislation has also been a focus of advocacy efforts by the broader medical community, including ACR, in previous congresses through the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) Graduate Medical Education (GME) Coalition.
This action by Congress is a key strategy to address the growing physician shortage and improve patient access to care. It also aligns with recent ACR advocacy efforts, including responding to a request for information issued by the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) regarding healthcare workforce shortages.
In feedback to the HELP Committee’s request, ACR collaborated with the Radiology Business Management Association (RBMA) in emphasizing the importance of the Physician Shortage Reduction Act and increasing the number of additional Medicare-funded GME residency slots for radiology.
The College will continue to monitor and provide updates on the bill’s progress. For additional information, contact Ashley Walton, ACR Director of Government Affairs.