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Graduate Medical Education (GME)
DGME | IME | CHGME | Resident Caps | Workforce
Resident physicians have graduated from medical school and typically spend three to seven years in graduate medical education (GME) training at teaching hospitals and their associated ambulatory settings. AAMC member teaching hospitals educate the next generation of physicians through excellent and essential clinical training.
The Medicare program is committed to paying its share of the costs of educating residents and provides special payments, called direct graduate medical education (DGME) payments, to hospitals to cover costs directly related to educating residents.
The Medicare program also provides special patient care payments to teaching hospitals, referred to as indirect medical education (IME) payments, to account for the higher costs of the complex patients teaching hospitals treat and the highly specialized care they provide.
Cuts to GME funding would jeopardize the ability of medical schools and teaching hospitals to train physicians, nurses, and other health care providers, as well as limit critical services to the community.
MedPAC Discusses Tracking Opioid Use in the Hospital Setting, Non-Urgent Care and Upcoding in Hospital Emergency Departments, and Other Topics
October 5, 2018
The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) met Oct. 4-5 to discuss several issues, including the use of opioids in the hospital setting and analysis regarding the care and coding practices for services delivered in hospital emergency departments (ED). The commission also held a discussion on how to address the primary care physician shortage [see related story].
MedPAC Discusses Supply of Primary Care Physicians; Loan Repayment
October 5, 2018
During its Oct. 4 meeting, the Medicare Payment and Access Commission (MedPAC) discussed Medicare’s role in the supply of primary care physicians.
MedPAC Discusses Supply of Primary Care Physicians; Loan Repayment
Congress Passes CHGME Reauthorization
September 7, 2018
The Senate Sept. 4 passed by unanimous consent the Children's Hospital Graduate Medical Education (CHGME) Support Reauthorization Act of 2018 (H.R. 5385), clearing the bill for the President’s signature. The bill authorizes the CHGME program for five years (through 2023) at $325 million per year, a $25 million (7.7%) increase over the previous authorization. Both the House and Senate fiscal year (FY) 2019 Labor-HHS appropriations bills include $325 million for CHGME, a $10 million (3%) increase over FY 2018 (see related story).
House Energy and Commerce Committee holds Markup on Key Workforce Diversity Legislation
July 13, 2018
The House Energy and Commerce Committee July 12 voted to move key workforce legislation to the House floor. Both the EMPOWER Act (H.R. 3728) and Children’s Hospital GME Support Reauthorization Act (H.R.5385) were among the approved bills.
House Energy and Commerce Committee holds Markup on Key Workforce Diversity Legislation
HRSA Publishes Final Response to Comments on its Proposed Standards for the Children’s Hospitals Graduate Medical Education Payment Program’s Quality Bonus System
June 29, 2018
The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) released its final response to comments for the establishment of standards for the Children’s Hospitals Graduate Medical Education (CHGME) Payment Program’s Quality Bonus System (QBS). HRSA requested feedback, and the AAMC commented in response to the proposed CHGME QBS’s goals, measures, metrics, structure, and implementation timeline, among other things. In response to comments by AAMC and other stakeholders, HRSA implemented several changes to the proposed standards.
Understanding GME
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Responding to the Opioid Epidemic
While all doctors are trained to treat pain and addiction, specialists in particular fields are critical to address the opioid epidemic in rural and urban communities alike. The Opioid Workforce Act of 2018 would provide federal support to train those specialists.
Learn more about the Opioid Workforce Act of 2018
On Government Affairs
Testimony and Correspondence
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Community Letter to House and Senate Appropriations Committee Leadership Concerning Student Aid Programs and the Rescissions Package
May 4, 2018
Community letter signed by 35 higher education organizations, and coordinated by the American Council on Education, expressing concern with the impact of including federal student aid programs in a rescissions package
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Higher Education Community Letter to Congressional Leadership in Support of FY18 Omnibus
March 22, 2018
Community letter signed by 39 higher education organizations, and coordinated by the American Council on Education, thanking House and Senate leadership for their commitment to student aid and scientific research in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018.
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AAMC Letter Responding to House Committee Inquiry on Opioid Policy Recommendations
March 19, 2018
Letter from AAMC President and CEO Darrell G. Kirch, M.D., responding to House Ways and Means Committee request for input on potential policy strategies to address the opioid epidemic.
Date: March 19, 2018