S. 2439 — Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act of 2025

This section establishes a process under Medicare's graduate medical education (GME) provisions to distribute 2,000 additional full-time equivalent (FTE) residency positions in each of FY2027 through FY2033 (totaling 14,000 positions, with any undistributed positions carried forward and additional distributions required after FY2033 if needed to reach 14,000) to qualifying hospitals that apply and demonstrate a likelihood of filling the positions within five cost reporting periods. (As background, Medicare's otherwise applicable resident limit, in place since 1997, caps the FTE residents eligible for direct GME payments to teaching hospitals and indirect medical education adjustments to inpatient prospective payments.) It requires distribution of at least 10% of positions to each of four hospital categories: (1) certain rural, sole community, or rural training track hospitals; (2) hospitals whose reference resident level exceeds their otherwise applicable limit; (3) hospitals in states with new or expanded medical schools since 2000; and (4) hospitals serving health professional shortage areas. The section also makes conforming amendments to include these positions in existing IME and GME distribution rules (paras. (4)(F)(i), (4)(H)(i), and (7)(E)).

This section directs the Comptroller General of the United States to conduct a study on strategies for increasing the diversity of the health professional workforce, including an analysis of the most effective strategies for increasing the number of health professionals from rural, lower-income, and underrepresented minority communities. Not later than two years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General must submit to Congress a report on the study, together with recommendations for legislation and administrative action as appropriate.