Sponsors (20)
The bill directs targeted federal funding to expand primary care training and partnerships in Tribal, rural, and high-need states—improving access in underserved areas—but limits who can receive grants, requires local matching and a relatively short authorization, which may concentrate benefits and reduce long-term reach and sustainability.
Medical students and residents training programs: federal grants will fund creation/expansion of primary care training focused on Tribal, rural, and medically underserved communities, increasing the supply of clinicians in those areas.
Underserved states and Tribal partners: the program gives priority to states with high projected primary care shortages and to applicants partnering with Tribes, IHS, and community clinics, directing resources to areas of greatest need and likely improving access.
Colleges and students receive sizable, predictable awards: grantees are guaranteed at least $1,000,000 per year (up to 5 years) enabling expanded faculty, training sites, and scholarships for students entering primary care.
Many schools and students excluded: only accredited public institutions in states in the top quartile for projected primary care shortages are eligible, leaving out private schools and institutions in lower-ranked states and reducing geographic and institutional diversity of recipients.
Short authorization horizon: authorization for only three years (FY2026–2028) limits long-term planning and sustainability for workforce programs that need multi-year continuity to affect clinician distribution.
Award floor concentrates funding: the $1 million minimum per grantee may concentrate funds among fewer institutions instead of allowing smaller awards to a broader set of programs in need.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Creates a HRSA grant program funding public medical schools to train primary care physicians for Tribal, rural, and underserved areas, authorizing $75M per year for FY2026–FY2028.
Introduced September 17, 2025 by Tom Cole · Last progress September 17, 2025
Establishes a new HRSA grant program to fund accredited public medical schools to train primary care physicians who will serve Tribal, rural, and medically underserved communities. Grants may run up to five years, must be at least $1,000,000 per year per grantee, require up to a 10% non‑Federal match, and give priority to institutions in states facing large primary care shortages or with Tribal partnership activity; $75 million is authorized for each of FY2026–FY2028.