Washington, D.C. — Congressman Greg Murphy, M.D. sent a letter alongside Doctors Caucus Co-Chair Rep. Brad Wenstrup, D.P.M., and Budget Committee Chairman Jodey Arrington to Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure to probe physician workforce shortages and the misallocation of graduate medical education (GME) slots. 

Background:
Congress passed the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 (CAA 2021) which established 1,000 additional Medicare-funded full-time equivalent resident cap slots to be phased in over five years for eligible hospitals. 

Recent data suggests GME slots are not being apportioned appropriately and harming rural geographical areas. The letter seeks information related to CMS’ allocation methodology for GME slots and the eligibility criteria for GME slots awarded to certain hospitals. 

"Federal investment in health care access for rural communities has paid dividends in improving health outcomes across the country," said Congressman Greg Murphy, M.D. "We must ensure GME slots are assigned fairly and transparently to best support our physician workforce and their patients. Nearly one-in-five Americans live in rural areas and are seeing access to care dry up. It is critical we leverage federal resources to reverse this troubling trend." 

"All Americans benefit from a strong physician workforce," said House Budget Committee Chairman Jodey Arrington. "However, the current system is not meeting the nation's needs either in terms of specialty or geography, particularly for Americans in rural areas. In 2021, Congress designated 1,000 additional GME slots for rural providers, but somehow, a large percentage somehow ended up going to urban hospitals in the Northeast. For the sake of taxpayers, patients, and rural America, this program needs greater oversight and accountability." 

“Our rural communities face critical shortages of physicians and providers," said Congressman Brad Wenstrup, D.P.M. "The fair and transparent distribution of graduate medical education slots will help Americans, regardless of geography, to have access to high quality healthcare so they can live the healthiest lives possible.”