Legislation Introduced to Bolster Physician Workforce

American College of Radiology® (ACR®)-supported legislation that would increase the number of Medicare-supported graduate medical education (GME) slots by 14,000 over seven years was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives June 10. The Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act of 2025, introduced by Reps. Terri Sewell (D-AL) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), would distribute those slots to hospitals across the country, with 10% of them designated to the following hospital categories:

• Hospitals in rural areas
• Hospitals training over their GME cap
• Hospitals in states with new medical schools or new branch campuses
• Hospitals that serve areas designated as health professional shortage areas (HPSAs), with priority to hospitals affiliated with historically Black medical schools

The bill also would codify the Rural Residency Planning and Development (RRPD) grant program that helps expand the number of trained physicians in rural settings by covering start-up costs, accreditation, faculty development and recruitment.

This bipartisan legislation was a focus of advocacy efforts by the broader medical community, including ACR, in previous congresses through the Association of American Medical Colleges Graduate Medical Education (GME) Coalition. It is a key strategy to address the growing physician shortage and improve patient access to care.

For more information, contact Ashley Walton, ACR Director of Government Affairs.