The Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act of 2025 supports the education and training of more physicians to ensure patients everywhere have access to high-quality care.
Today, Reps. Terri Sewell (D-Ala.) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.) introduced the Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act of 2025, bipartisan legislation that would gradually add 14,000 Medicare-supported medical residency positions over seven years as well as codify the Rural Residency Planning and Development (RRPD) Program. The AAMC (Association of American Medical Colleges) endorses this legislation as a crucial step toward helping address the physician shortage and improve access to care for patients nationwide.
According to AAMC data, the United States faces a projected shortage of up to 86,000 physicians by 2036 due to the nation’s growing and aging population—which requires advanced medical care—and a significant portion of the physician workforce approaching retirement age. While academic health systems and teaching hospitals continue to invest in their physician training and patient care missions, and Congress has provided 1,200 new Medicare-supported graduate medical education (GME) positions, more are needed to meet this demand.
“We appreciate Reps. Sewell and Fitzpatrick’s unwavering support for federal investment in physician training. Their commitment reflects an understanding of the urgent need for communities nationwide to have access to the quality health care they deserve,” said AAMC President and CEO David J. Skorton, MD. “As our nation’s population ages and the demand for medical care continues to rise, Congress must take immediate action to tackle the critical physician shortage that threatens the health and well-being of our nation.”
Rural communities face unique challenges that often result in gaps in care. Codifying the RRPD Program—which is an existing, effective federal grant program that provides funding for the initial costs associated with residency programs in rural areas—would bolster the rural physician workforce by reducing the financial hurdles rural teaching hospitals face when starting residency programs.
“Reducing barriers to establishing residency programs will allow rural teaching hospitals to train more physicians. Doctors who train in rural communities are more likely to practice in rural communities,” said Skorton. “I'm grateful that Reps. Sewell and Fitzpatrick have augmented this legislation by proposing to codify the RRPD, which would expand access to training opportunities in rural areas.”
The nation’s academic health systems, teaching hospitals, and medical schools—known collectively as academic medicine—continue to invest in medical education and training for physicians and health care providers and innovate in health care delivery to improve access to high-quality care. Despite these efforts, doctor shortages and lack of access will continue to pose serious threats to the nation’s health and well-being unless the physician workforce is able to sufficiently grow.
“Now more than ever, we must invest in Medicare-supported graduate medical education and expand the physician workforce,” said Skorton. “The AAMC is committed to improving the health of people everywhere, and this bipartisan legislation is a critical step toward accomplishing that goal. We look forward to partnering with Congress to advance this important legislation.”