Ensuring Access to General Surgery Act of 2026
- Bill Number
- H.R. 7198
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Health
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-01-22: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-09T19:30:24Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose of the Legislation
The Ensuring Access to General Surgery Act of 2026 aims to tackle shortages of general surgeons in the United States, particularly in underserved urban, suburban, and rural areas. It seeks to improve how these shortages are identified and addressed by requiring a federal study and potentially creating a new system to officially designate "general surgery shortage areas" under the Public Health Service Act. This would help ensure better access to surgical care amid growing demand from population changes and an aging society.
Key Provisions
- Short Title and Findings: The bill is titled the "Ensuring Access to General Surgery Act of 2026." It includes congressional findings based on reports from sources like the Bureau of Health Workforce, American College of Surgeons, and Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). These highlight projected shortages of 15,800 to 30,200 surgeons by 2034, uneven distribution (e.g., rural areas have only 69% of needed surgeons), and the need for better data on workforce demands influenced by factors like health outcomes, population growth, and healthcare delivery changes.
- Addition to Public Health Service Act: Adds a new Subpart XIII to Part D of Title III, focusing on general surgery shortages.
- Definition: A "general surgery shortage area" is any urban, suburban, or rural U.S. area with a population underserved by general surgeons (doctors who perform a wide range of surgeries, such as on the abdomen, skin, or endocrine system).
- Required Study: The Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the HRSA Administrator, must conduct a study on:
- Whether existing "health professional shortage areas" (HPSAs—federal designations for areas lacking sufficient healthcare providers) accurately identify general surgeon shortages.
- Alternative ways to measure access, such as linking surgeons to hospital service areas (geographic zones where patients typically seek care).
- Potential methods for designating shortage areas, including a detailed approach:
- Mapping "surgery service areas" using hospital data and patient ZIP codes from Medicare records.
- Counting active general surgeons in those areas.
- Calculating surgeon-to-population ratios.
- Setting thresholds for supply levels (optimal, adequate, shortage, critical shortage), considering factors like wait times for surgery, patient health results, travel time to care, and patient feedback—without assuming the current national supply is ideal.
- Report and Consultation: A report on the study must be submitted to Congress within one year of enactment. The Secretary must consult stakeholders like medical societies, surgical facility groups, surgery experts, and patient organizations.
- Data Publication: HRSA must regularly collect and publish in the Federal Register (a government journal for public notices) data on surgery service availability versus needs across area types. If designations are made, a list of shortage areas will also be published.
- Designation Process: Based on the study, the Secretary may create a designation methodology through public rulemaking (a formal process for developing regulations with input from the public). If implemented:
- Areas would be designated, listed, and reviewed annually.
- Procedures would mirror those for HPSAs, including notifications, public comments, information sharing, and congressional reports.
- Stakeholder consultations would continue.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Introduces the first specific federal framework for identifying and designating general surgery shortages, separate from the broader HPSA system under Section 332 of the Public Health Service Act, which covers various healthcare providers but does not focus on surgeons.
- Mandates a dedicated study and potential new metrics (e.g., hospital-based service areas and tailored ratios), moving beyond current general assessments to more precise, data-driven evaluations that account for surgical-specific factors like travel to facilities.
- Requires ongoing data publication and annual reviews, enhancing transparency and adaptability compared to existing static or less frequent shortage designations.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: HRSA and HHS will face increased responsibilities, including conducting the study, potential rulemaking, data collection, and annual reviews, which could require additional funding and staff. This might integrate with existing programs to recruit providers to shortage areas (e.g., via loan repayment or incentives).
- Citizens: Underserved populations, especially in rural areas, could gain better access to general surgeons through targeted efforts to attract providers, potentially reducing wait times, improving health outcomes, and addressing disparities in surgical care. Urban and suburban low-income groups might also benefit if shortages are identified there.
- International Relations: No direct impacts, as the bill focuses on domestic U.S. healthcare workforce issues.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Patients and Communities: Especially in rural or underserved areas, who may see improved surgical access and reduced travel burdens.
- General Surgeons and Healthcare Providers: Could influence recruitment, incentives, and professional distribution through new designations.
- Hospitals and Surgical Facilities: Particularly critical access hospitals (small rural facilities), which might qualify for support if lacking surgeons.
- Medical and Patient Organizations: Groups like the American College of Surgeons and patient advocacy bodies, involved in consultations and benefiting from better data.
- Federal Agencies: HRSA and HHS, responsible for implementation; Congress, receiving reports and overseeing designations.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Establishes a rulemaking process with public input, ensuring compliance with the Administrative Procedure Act (federal rules for creating regulations). Designations could enable tie-ins to existing programs like National Health Service Corps incentives, but the bill itself does not create new funding—any expansions would need separate legislation.
- Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's authority under the Commerce Clause to regulate interstate healthcare and public welfare; no apparent challenges to federalism, as it builds on existing health policy without overriding state laws.
- Political: Bipartisan sponsorship (Democrats Bera and Peters; Republicans Bacon and Joyce) signals broad support for rural health initiatives. It highlights workforce planning amid national debates on healthcare access, potentially influencing future bills on physician shortages without partisan controversy. The emphasis on impartial data could promote evidence-based policy over political favoritism.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (7)
Rep. Bacon, Don [R-NE-2], Rep. Peters, Scott H. [D-CA-50], Rep. Joyce, John [R-PA-13], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Bishop, Sanford D. [D-GA-2], Rep. Davids, Sharice [D-KS-3], Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13]
Recent Actions
- 2026-01-22: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- 2026-01-22: Introduced in House
- 2026-01-22: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Ensuring Access to General Surgery Act of 2026 — issued 2026-01-22 — PDF (8 pages)