119th Congress Health
H.R. 7198: Ensuring Access to General Surgery Act of 2026
Introduced
- Introduced (completed)
- Passed House (not reached)
- Passed Senate (not reached)
- To the President (not reached)
- Became law (not reached)
Summary
This bill requires the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to study access to general surgeons by underserved populations.
Specifically, HRSA must study (1) whether the health professional shortage area designation under the National Health Service Corps (NHSC) program accurately assesses adequacy of access to general surgeons, (2) whether another measure would be more accurate, and (3) potential methodologies for designating general surgery shortage areas. (The NHSC provides scholarships and student loan repayment awards to primary care, dental care, and mental health care providers who agree to work in areas that HRSA designates as having a shortage of those particular types of providers.)
HRSA must also publish data comparing the availability and need of general surgery services in urban, suburban, and rural areas.
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On the basis of its study, HRSA may establish a methodology for designating general surgery shortage areas and make such designations. If any designations are made, HRSA must publish a list of general surgery shortage areas.
Written by the Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress.
Roll calls
No roll call votes have been held on this bill.
Amendments
No amendments were offered to this bill.
Cosponsors
- Don Bacon R-NEOriginal
- John Joyce R-PAOriginal
- Scott Peters D-CAOriginal
- Sanford Bishop D-GA
- Sharice Davids D-KS
- Eleanor Norton D-DC
- Shri Thanedar D-MI
- Salud Carbajal D-CA
- Mark Pocan D-WI
Who scored on this bill
- 1Ami Bera SponsorDrew cross-party cosponsors, introduced2 events+6
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Other bills by Ami Bera
History
- Introduced in the House by Ami Bera.
Show the full action history (2 actions)
- Introduced in House
- Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.