The House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Administrative State, Regulatory Reform, and Antitrust held a May 14 hearing, “The MATCH Monopoly: Evaluating the Medical Residency Antitrust Exemption,” to examine the National Resident Matching Program’s® (NRMP’s®) statutory antitrust exemption. Witnesses expressed divergent views on The MATCH’s impact, with critics arguing that it restricts resident physician mobility and wages and others warning that eliminating the current system could create disorder and inequity in residency placement. The hearing featured discussion of resident experiences, market competition, and whether reforms, rather than full repeal of the exemption, might better address concerns.
In a statement for the record (PDF), the AAMC emphasized a matching process’ role in creating a fair, efficient process that aligns preferences of applicants and programs, while clarifying that the AAMC does not operate The MATCH. The association noted that more than 97% of U.S. MD graduates match into residency each year and stressed that dismantling the system without a suitable alternative could disrupt physician training. The statement urged Congress to pursue meaningful solutions to the physician shortage, including expanding Medicare-supported graduate medical education, investing in rural training, and reauthorizing workforce programs.