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Ensuring Access to General Surgery Act of 2021
12/31/2022, 9:00 AM
Summary of Bill HR 5149
The legislation proposes several measures to increase the number of general surgeons in the country. This includes establishing a grant program to support medical schools and teaching hospitals in training more general surgeons. The bill also seeks to incentivize medical students to pursue careers in general surgery by offering scholarships and loan repayment programs.
Additionally, the Ensuring Access to General Surgery Act of 2021 aims to improve access to surgical care in rural and underserved areas by expanding telehealth services for general surgery consultations. The bill also calls for the development of a national strategy to address the shortage of general surgeons and improve access to surgical care for all Americans. Overall, the bill seeks to ensure that all Americans have access to high-quality general surgical care by addressing the shortage of general surgeons in the United States. It emphasizes the importance of general surgery in maintaining the health and well-being of the population, especially in rural and underserved areas.
Congressional Summary of HR 5149
Ensuring Access to General Surgery Act of 2021
This bill requires the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to study access by underserved populations to general surgeons.
Specifically, HRSA must study (1) whether the health professional shortage area designation under the National Health Service Corps (NHSC) program accurately assesses adequacy of access to general surgeons, (2) whether another measure would be more accurate, and (3) potential methodologies for designating general surgery shortage areas. (The NHSC provides scholarships and student loan repayment awards to primary care, dental care, and mental health care providers who agree to work in areas that HRSA designates as having a shortage of those particular types of providers.)
HRSA must also publish data comparing the availability and need of general surgery services in urban, suburban, and rural areas.
On the basis of its study, HRSA may establish a methodology for designating general surgery shortage areas and make such designations. If any designations are made, HRSA must publish a list of general surgery shortage areas.
