Sponsors (10)
The bill invests modest, stable federal funds to expand rural residency training and strengthen local health care capacity—improving access in underserved areas—while offering only limited near-term reach and carrying some risk of uneven grant distribution.
Rural residents and patients (including those with chronic conditions) gain better access to physicians as grants create new rural-focused residency programs and help develop local training sites, strengthening rural hospitals and clinics.
Medical trainees (residents and students) receive expanded opportunities to train in rural-focused programs, supporting a longer-term workforce pipeline into underserved areas.
The bill provides stable, multi-year federal funding ($12.7M per year for FY2026–2030, available until expended), enabling planning and sustained implementation of rural residency and training initiatives.
The program’s funding level is modest relative to the nationwide rural physician shortage, so impacts are likely to be limited and gradual rather than solving shortages quickly.
Because the Secretary has broad authority over eligibility, grant pathways, and extensions, awarding could be uneven across regions or types of applicants, producing unequal access to the program’s benefits.
Taxpayers bear increased federal spending of $12.7M per year for five years to support these programs.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Establishes grant programs to plan, create, and support rural residency programs and technical assistance, authorizing $12.7M annually for FY2026–2030.
Introduced December 4, 2025 by Carol Devine Miller · Last progress December 4, 2025
Creates two federal grant programs to expand and support physician residency training in rural areas: one program to plan and establish new rural residency programs or add rural training sites, and a technical assistance program to help applicants and awardees. Authorizes $12.7 million per year for fiscal years 2026–2030, with grants awarded for multi-year terms and funding available until expended.