Bill > HR6562

This bill, the Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act of 2012, aims to address a shortage of doctors by increasing the number of available residency positions, which are training slots for newly graduated doctors. Specifically, it directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to add up to 3,000 new residency positions annually from fiscal years 2013 through 2017, with a provision for continuing this if positions remain available. A portion of these new positions are specifically allocated to hospitals that are already training more residents than their current limit allows, provided they meet certain criteria, such as training a significant percentage of residents in primary care and general surgery. The bill also outlines a priority system for distributing the remaining positions to other hospitals, favoring those with new medical schools, those emphasizing community-based training, and those eligible for certain incentive payments. Hospitals receiving these additional positions must commit to using them to train residents in "shortage specialty residency programs" (defined as specialties with projected physician demand exceeding supply) and maintain their overall resident training levels. Furthermore, the bill mandates studies by the National Health Care Workforce Commission on physician shortages and by the Comptroller General on strategies to increase diversity within the healthcare workforce.