To amend title III of the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize the program of payments to childrens hospitals that operate graduate medical education programs.
- Bill Number
- H.R. 2960
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Health
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-04-17: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- Last Updated
- 2025-05-20T13:49:02Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
This legislation, H.R. 2960, aims to extend federal funding support for graduate medical education (GME) programs—specialized training for doctors after medical school—at children's hospitals. It reauthorizes a payment program under the Public Health Service Act to ensure these hospitals continue receiving financial assistance for training future pediatric specialists.
Key Provisions
- Amends Section 340E of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 256e).
- Updates expiration dates in the law:
- In subsection (a), changes the overall program authorization from 2023 to 2030.
- In subsection (f)(1)(A)(vi), extends the reporting requirement deadline from 2023 to 2030.
- In subsection (f)(2)(F), extends the funding availability period from 2023 to 2030.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- The primary change is extending the program's authorization, reporting, and funding timelines by seven years, from fiscal year 2023 to 2030.
- No new programs, eligibility rules, or funding amounts are added; it simply prevents the program from sunsetting (ending automatically) after 2023.
Potential Impacts
- On government agencies: The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will continue administering payments without interruption, maintaining steady federal spending on pediatric training (estimated at around $300 million annually based on prior appropriations, though not specified here).
- On citizens: Supports the training of more pediatricians and specialists, potentially improving access to children's healthcare in underserved areas by sustaining hospital-based education programs.
- On international relations: No direct impact, as this is a domestic health funding measure focused on U.S. medical training.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Children's hospitals: Those operating GME programs (about 60 nationwide) benefit from continued direct payments to offset training costs not covered by Medicare.
- Medical trainees: Residents and fellows in pediatric specialties gain sustained funding for their education.
- Patients and families: Indirectly benefits children and families through a stronger pipeline of trained pediatric healthcare providers.
- Federal government: HHS and Congress manage the program's oversight and budgeting.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: This is a routine reauthorization that aligns with Congress's authority under the Spending Clause of the Constitution to allocate federal funds for public health. It avoids disruptions to an established program without introducing new regulatory burdens.
- Constitutional: No significant challenges; it upholds equal treatment under existing health laws without favoring specific groups.
- Political: Reinforces bipartisan support for pediatric workforce development, potentially easing future budget negotiations by locking in funding stability through 2030. It highlights priorities in child health amid broader debates on healthcare spending.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Recent Actions
- 2025-04-17: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- 2025-04-17: Introduced in House
- 2025-04-17: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- To amend title III of the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize the program of payments to childrens hospitals that operate graduate medical education programs. — issued 2025-04-17 — PDF (2 pages)