March 13, 2025
Ms. Rosen (for herself and Mr. Boozman) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance
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 Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Physicians for Underserved Areas Act
.
Sec. 2. Improvements to the redistribution of residency slots under the Medicare program after a hospital closes
(a) In general
Section 1886(h)(4)(H)(vi) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395ww(h)(4)(H)(vi)) is amended—
(1)
in subclause (II)—
(A)
by striking item (cc) and redesignating item (dd) as item (cc); and
(B)
in item (cc), as redesignated under subparagraph (A)—
(i)
by striking Fourth
and inserting Third
; and
(ii)
by striking item (cc)
and inserting item (bb)
; and
(2)
in subclause (III), by striking likelihood of filling
and all that follows and inserting the following: “likelihood of—
(aa)
starting to utilize the positions made available under this clause within 2 years; and
(bb)
filling the positions made available under this clause within 5 years.
(b) Effective date
The amendments made by subsection (a) shall apply to the redistribution of residency slots with respect to hospitals that close on or after the date of enactment of this Act.