Community TEAMS Act of 2025

Bill Number

H.R. 3885

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Health

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-06-10: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Last Updated

2026-07-01T08:09:11Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

The Community Training, Education, and Access for Medical Students Act of 2025 (Community TEAMS Act of 2025) aims to improve healthcare access in rural areas and medically underserved communities by funding community-based training programs for medical students. It encourages future doctors to practice long-term in these high-need areas through hands-on clinical experience in local health facilities.

Key Provisions

• Grant Program: The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Director can award grants to expand community-based clinical training (rotations) for medical students in rural areas and medically underserved communities, including outpatient settings. These rotations aim to build sustainable physician practices in these locations.
• Grant Duration: Grants last 1 to 5 years, as decided by HRSA.
• Eligibility Requirements: Applicants must be consortia (partnerships) consisting of:
• One or more osteopathic or allopathic medical schools (osteopathic refers to schools training doctors of osteopathic medicine, focusing on whole-person care; allopathic refers to traditional medical schools training doctors of medicine).
• One or more of the following: rural health clinics, Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs, community-based organizations that provide primary care to underserved populations regardless of ability to pay), or healthcare facilities in medically underserved communities.
• Application Process: Eligible consortia must submit applications in consultation with a state's rural health office or similar entity. Applications require:
• A project description and justification for federal funding.
• Plans for continuous quality improvement in services.
• Details on how the project will increase access to quality healthcare across the full range of care (from prevention to treatment).
• A sustainability plan after federal funding ends.
• An evaluation method for the project.
• Other information as required by HRSA.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

This bill amends Section 330A of the Public Health Service Act (which authorizes grants for rural health care services, small provider improvements, and related activities):

• Adds a new subsection (h) specifically for medical student training grants in rural and underserved areas.
• Redesignates existing subsections (h), (i), and (j) as (i), (j), and (k) to accommodate the new provision.
• Updates subsection (a) to explicitly include expanding community-based medical student training as a grant purpose.
• Modifies subsection (d)(2) to reference the new subsection (h) in funding priorities and evaluation criteria, ensuring these training programs are considered in grant awards and assessments.

These changes integrate the new training focus into the existing rural health grant framework without altering core eligibility or funding mechanisms for other programs.

Potential Impacts

• On Government Agencies: HRSA will administer additional grants, potentially increasing administrative workload and federal spending on rural health initiatives. This could enhance coordination between medical education and community health services.
• On Citizens: Residents in rural and medically underserved areas may gain better access to healthcare through more physicians committed to practicing locally, addressing shortages and improving care continuity. Medical students benefit from practical training opportunities that influence career choices toward underserved regions.
• On International Relations: No direct impacts, as the bill focuses on domestic U.S. healthcare.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Medical Schools and Students: Osteopathic and allopathic schools partner in consortia; students receive targeted training to encourage practice in high-need areas.
• Healthcare Facilities: Rural health clinics, FQHCs, and facilities in underserved communities collaborate on training and may see improved staffing and service quality.
• Communities and Residents: Rural and medically underserved populations (often low-income or remote) benefit from increased physician presence and healthcare access.
• Government Entities: HRSA oversees grants; state rural health offices provide input on applications.
• Bipartisan Sponsors: Representatives from both parties (e.g., Mrs. Miller of West Virginia) indicate broad support for rural health equity.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: The bill builds on established federal authority under the Public Health Service Act to fund rural health programs, with no apparent conflicts to existing laws like the Social Security Act (which defines FQHCs). It emphasizes evidence-based evaluation and sustainability, promoting accountable use of public funds.
• Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's spending power to promote general welfare, particularly in addressing healthcare disparities, without raising federalism concerns as it involves voluntary state partnerships.
• Political: Highlights bipartisan effort to tackle physician shortages in rural America, potentially influencing future healthcare policy debates on workforce development and equity. It avoids controversial elements like mandates, focusing instead on incentives through grants.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Miller, Carol D. [R-WV-1]

Cosponsors (28)

Rep. Veasey, Marc A. [D-TX-33], Rep. Graves, Sam [R-MO-6], Rep. Carter, Troy A. [D-LA-2], Rep. Soto, Darren [D-FL-9], Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13], Rep. Tokuda, Jill N. [D-HI-2], Rep. Davis, Donald G. [D-NC-1], Rep. Vindman, Eugene Simon [D-VA-7], Rep. McClain Delaney, April [D-MD-6], Rep. Kelly, Mike [R-PA-16], Rep. Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9], Rep. Vasquez, Gabe [D-NM-2], Rep. Harder, Josh [D-CA-9], Rep. Meuser, Daniel [R-PA-9], Rep. Valadao, David G. [R-CA-22], Rep. Pingree, Chellie [D-ME-1], Rep. Pappas, Chris [D-NH-1], Rep. Davids, Sharice [D-KS-3], Rep. Bacon, Don [R-NE-2], Rep. Lee, Susie [D-NV-3], Rep. Leger Fernandez, Teresa [D-NM-3], Rep. Neguse, Joe [D-CO-2], Rep. Rogers, Mike D. [R-AL-3], Rep. Crawford, Eric A. "Rick" [R-AR-1], Rep. Schrier, Kim [D-WA-8], Rep. Thompson, Glenn [R-PA-15], Rep. Van Orden, Derrick [R-WI-3], Rep. Suozzi, Thomas R. [D-NY-3]

Recent Actions

• 2025-06-10: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
• 2025-06-10: Introduced in House
• 2025-06-10: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Community Training, Education, and Access for Medical Students Act of 2025 — issued 2025-06-10 — PDF (5 pages)