Bill Summary
This legislation, called the "Task Force to Study Physician Shortages Act," directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to create a task force to study and evaluate the impact of physician shortages in the United States. The task force will also quantify the number of individuals who have completed training abroad to become physicians but do not currently practice in the US, and identify the reasons why they are not practicing, including any regulatory barriers. The task force is required to submit a report to Congress within 2 years, summarizing their findings and making recommendations to address any barriers to these individuals practicing as physicians in the US.
Possible Impacts
1. The task force established under this bill may recommend changes to regulations and policies that currently hinder foreign-trained physicians from practicing in the United States. This could potentially impact the job opportunities and income of these individuals.
2. The report submitted by the task force could highlight the high costs incurred by both the federal government and state and local governments due to physician shortages. This could lead to increased funding for healthcare programs and resources to address these shortages.
3. If the recommendations made by the task force are implemented, it could potentially benefit patients in areas with a shortage of physicians by increasing access to healthcare services. This could have a positive impact on the overall health and well-being of these individuals.
[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6432 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
116th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 6432
To direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a
task force to conduct a study on physician shortages, including
barriers to physicians trained abroad practicing in the United States,
and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
April 3, 2020
Mr. Cardenas (for himself, Mr. Gonzalez of Texas, Mrs. Hayes, Mr.
Khanna, Ms. Jackson Lee, Mr. McGovern, Ms. Stevens, Ms. Tlaib, and Ms.
Mucarsel-Powell) introduced the following bill; which was referred to
the Committee on Energy and Commerce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a
task force to conduct a study on physician shortages, including
barriers to physicians trained abroad practicing in the United States,
and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. TASK FORCE TO STUDY PHYSICIAN SHORTAGES.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall
establish a task force to conduct a study--
(1) evaluating and quantifying--
(A) the impact of physician shortages in the United
States; and
(B) the costs incurred by Federal Government and
State and local governments due to such shortages;
(2) quantifying the number of individuals who--
(A) completed training outside the United States to
practice as a physician;
(B) reside in the United States; and
(C) do not practice as a physician; and
(3) determining the reasons why individuals described in
paragraph (2) are not practicing as a physician, including
identification of regulatory and other barriers to such
practice.
(b) Report.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall
require the task force established under subsection (a) to submit to
the Congress not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this
Act a report--
(1) summarizing the results of the study under subsection
(a); and
(2) making recommendations to ease barriers to individuals
described in subsection (a)(2) practicing as physicians in the
United States.
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