Sponsors (3)
Introduced April 10, 2025 by Roger F. Wicker · Last progress April 10, 2025
The resolution recognizes and documents the sizeable and growing osteopathic physician workforce and its rural training role—highlighting potential benefits for access—while remaining a findings-only measure that provides no funding or policy changes to realize those benefits.
Patients (especially primary-care patients) and the health system: there are over 157,000 practicing osteopathic physicians in the U.S., increasing the available primary-care-capable workforce.
Future patients and underserved areas: nearly 40,000 osteopathic medical students expand the pipeline of physicians, helping address projected provider shortages over time.
Rural and underserved communities and local health systems: osteopathic schools train physicians in rural and underserved areas, which can improve local access to care.
Patients in underserved areas and advocates: the resolution is findings-only and does not change funding or programs, so it offers recognition without directly increasing access to care or services.
Healthcare workers and taxpayers: emphasizing osteopathic contributions without accompanying policy action could be used to justify preferential attention without concrete resource commitments.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Declares Congressional findings that recognize the size, growth, history, training, geographic distribution, and contributions of osteopathic physicians and osteopathic medical students in the United States. Notes numerical facts (more than 157,000 osteopathic physicians and nearly 40,000 students), historical origins of osteopathic medicine, rapid workforce growth, and that osteopathic physicians practice in all specialties and across every State, including service in rural and underserved areas.