Train More Doctors Act of 2023
If enacted, this bill would extend the cap building period for eligible hospitals by two years, allowing them to better adjust to the limitations on full-time equivalent residents due to the pandemic's impact. This extension is critical for hospitals that are attempting to adapt their residency programs during a disrupted healthcare environment, enabling them to train more physicians and potentially address physician shortages magnified by COVID-19. By adjusting these caps, the bill aims to improve the overall capacity for medical training within the healthcare system.
House Bill 4680, known as the 'Train More Doctors Act of 2023', aims to amend Title XVIII of the Social Security Act specifically to extend the period for certain teaching hospitals to establish full-time equivalent residency caps for new residency training programs that have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The proposed legislation recognizes that the public health emergency disrupted the traditional medical training pathways and seeks to provide additional time for hospitals that began training residents in new approved programs between July 1, 2018, and July 1, 2021.
While the bill seeks to expand medical training opportunities in light of the pandemic, it could also generate discussion around the funding implications for Medicare and how these adjustments fit within the broader healthcare policy landscape. Notably, some stakeholders may express concern about the quality of training if the number of residency positions expands too quickly without sufficient oversight, raising questions about maintaining rigorous educational standards during this extended cap building period.