Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania and Congresswoman Terri Sewell of Alabama have introduced the Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act of 2025. This bipartisan legislation aims to address the anticipated shortage of up to 86,000 physicians by 2036 by expanding Medicare-supported medical residency positions.
The bill proposes adding 14,000 new residency slots over seven years, with a focus on rural and underserved areas, Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs), states with new or expanding medical schools, and hospitals currently training over their resident caps. “Access to care begins with access to doctors—and right now, we simply don’t have enough,” said Rep. Fitzpatrick. He emphasized that this legislation provides a long-overdue solution by expanding residency training.
Rep. Sewell highlighted the impact on rural communities: “Our nation’s doctor shortage threatens to make it harder for millions of Americans to access the lifesaving care they depend on.” The bill includes measures such as allocating at least 10% of new slots to each priority category and supporting rural training track development through grants.
The Association of American Medical Colleges supports the initiative, with President David J. Skorton stating that it is a crucial step toward addressing the physician shortage by increasing Medicare-supported residency positions. Similarly, AMA President Bruce A. Scott praised the legislation for addressing growing physician shortages and access challenges.
This proposal aligns with Fitzpatrick’s broader health care agenda focused on expanding provider training pipelines and supporting frontline health workers.
