U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell helps introduce bipartisan legislation to address doctor shortage
Photo from the Office of U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell
U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell (D-Alabama) and U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pennsylvania) are introducing a bipartisan bill they hope will combat the doctor shortage.
Their bill is called the Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act of 2025. It would expand the number of Medicare-supported medical residency positions by 14,000 over seven years.
“Our nation’s doctor shortage threatens to make it harder for millions of Americans to access the lifesaving care they depend on. The situation is especially dire for rural communities like the ones I represent,” Rep. Sewell said in a statement. “Our Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act is a commonsense bill that will help us train more doctors to meet the growing demand. It will give our hospitals and health centers the tools they need to increase access, lower wait times for patients, and better serve Americans’ health needs.”
According to data from the Association of American Medical Colleges, the U.S. faces a projected physician shortage of up to 86,000 physicians by 2036, with demand for physicians outpacing supply. Population growth and aging are incresing the need for doctors.
In addition, as a large portion of the physician workforce nears traditional retirement age, there is a critical need to educate and train more physicians to ensure there are enough physicians to care for patients across all communities in the future.
The Association of American Medical Colleges says it supports the bill.
“The American Medical Association commends Reps. Terri Sewell (D-AL) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) for once again introducing this crucial bipartisan legislation that aims to address the growing physician shortage and resulting access challenges for patients,” said AMA President Bruce A. Scott, M.D. “As more Americans become eligible for Medicare each year, the demand for physician care continues to rise. This bill—by expanding federal support for graduate medical education over the next seven years—represents a critical step toward ensuring patients nationwide have access to well-trained physicians in their communities.”
— Information from the Office of U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell
