Bill > HR4942

This bill, titled the Underserved Veterans Access to Health Care Act, aims to increase the number of graduate medical education residency positions at hospitals run by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Specifically, it mandates that the Secretary of Veterans Affairs establish or ensure sufficient residency positions at VA medical facilities that are experiencing a physician shortage and are located in areas designated as health professional shortage areas, meaning they lack adequate healthcare providers. The bill requires the Secretary to identify the specific types of healthcare professionals needed, such as primary care and mental health specialists, and to allocate residency slots accordingly, while also informing Congress about the basis for these decisions. Furthermore, over the next five years, the VA Secretary is tasked with creating at least 2,000 new residency positions, prioritizing facilities that currently do not have residency programs and are situated in communities with a high concentration of veterans.