Restoring Rights of Medical Residents Act

This bill ends a special legal shield that protects the medical residency “match” system from antitrust laws. In simple terms, the residency match and related activities would have to follow the same competition rules as everyone else. The goal is to prevent unfair limits on jobs, pay, or working conditions that could come from coordinated actions during the match process.

It takes effect on the first March 18 after the bill becomes law.

• Who is affected: Medical residents, residency programs, and teaching hospitals that take part in the match.
• What changes: The antitrust exemption for graduate medical resident matching programs is repealed, so normal antitrust rules apply.
• When: Effective on the first March 18 after enactment.