The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on Jan. 9 awarded 200 Medicare-funded residency slots to support hospitals that serve underserved communities. The awards are a result of the fiscal year 2022 Hospital Inpatient Prospective Payment System final rule, which established policies to implement 1,000 new Medicare-funded physician residency slots to qualifying hospitals authorized by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, phasing in 200 slots per year over five years.
CMS prioritized hospitals with training programs in health professional shortage areas, geographic areas demonstrating the greatest need for additional providers. The first round of 200 residency positions are awarded to 100 teaching hospitals — including 27 essential hospitals — in 30 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico, effective July 1.
These slots include 125 allocated for primary care, including obstetrics/gynecology, and 20 for psychiatry. CMS aims to increase training in core specialties to improve access to critical services for people who face financial and social barriers to care.
Contact Senior Director of Policy Erin O’Malley at eomalley@essentialhospitals.org or 202.585.0127 with questions.
