Bill Overview
Title: Medical Student Education Authorization Act of 2022
Description: This bill establishes matching grants awarded by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to expand and support medical education with a particular focus on training students to serve as primary care physicians in tribal, rural, or medically underserved communities. HRSA must award the grants to public institutions of higher education located in states that rank in the top quartile of states based on projected unmet demand for primary care providers. In awarding the grants, HRSA must give priority to recipients that (1) are located in states with two or more federally recognized Indian tribes, and (2) demonstrate a public-private partnership. Recipients must use grant funds for specified activities that include developing curricula, expanding partnerships with health care providers and community-based organizations, and providing scholarships.
Sponsors: Rep. Cole, Tom [R-OK-4]
Target Audience
Population: Individuals in medically underserved or rural communities, and medical students pursuing primary care.
Estimated Size: 57000000
- The bill aims to support medical students, particularly those in states with high unmet demand for primary care providers.
- Emphasis is placed on serving tribal, rural, or medically underserved communities.
- The bill focuses on public institutions of higher education for medical education expansion.
- By training more primary care physicians, communities with projected unmet needs should benefit greatly.
- It affects states with high demand for primary care providers and with two or more federally recognized Indian tribes.
- Recipients of the grants will need to engage in public-private partnerships, further broadening the impact.
Reasoning
- The policy targets increasing the number of medical students trained in primary care with a focus on rural, tribal, and medically underserved areas.
- Medical students are direct beneficiaries, as they'll receive better training opportunities and potentially scholarships.
- Residents in tribal, rural, or medically underserved areas will indirectly benefit as the policy aims to increase the number of primary care physicians in these communities.
- The policy's impact on individuals can be categorized based on whether they are medical students or residents in the targeted communities.
- Medical institutions in states with high unmet primary care needs gain resources to expand curricular offerings and partnerships, which can have long-term positive effects for their students and faculty.
- In evaluating the impact, it's important to consider that some states might see more benefit based on allocations, as states with multiple tribes or higher unmet needs are prioritized.
- The policy does not directly affect urban residents who are not in medical education, thus they might report no change.
Simulated Interviews
Primary Care Resident (Rural Montana)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy could really make a difference for communities like mine by encouraging more students to go into primary care.
- I'm pretty hopeful that increased funding could improve resources and training facilities.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 7 |
Medical Student (Rural Maine)
Age: 22 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I believe the scholarships and improved training will help a lot of students like myself to complete our education and give back to our communities.
- The focus on rural areas is absolutely necessary.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 10 | 6 |
Nurse (Urban California)
Age: 33 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think it's great they're focusing on underserved areas, but I don't think this policy affects my role directly.
- Our hospital won't benefit from the direct allocation since we're not the primary focus.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Community Health Worker (Tribal Lands, Arizona)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's vital that we get more primary care doctors. This policy could help address some of the shortages we're facing.
- I hope our state takes full advantage of this opportunity.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Hospital Administrator (Suburban Michigan)
Age: 50 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- While this won't directly affect our administration, the nationwide improvement on primary care is welcomed.
- I hope it encourages more students to choose primary care roles.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
Pre-Med Student (Rural Alabama)
Age: 28 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This bill is a promising step for students like me who want to make a difference in rural communities.
- Any support to get through med school is welcome.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
Primary Care Physician (Rural North Dakota)
Age: 54 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- More trained professionals can significantly alleviate the burden on existing medical staff here.
- I look forward to potential new partnerships and improved curricula for students.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Health Services Director (Rural Oklahoma)
Age: 37 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This act sounds like a great opportunity to attract medical students into communities that are crying out for more primary care doctors.
- It could help improve healthcare services tremendously.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Medical Lecturer (Urban Oregon)
Age: 31 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Our institution won't directly benefit from these grants, but I hope it enhances the national healthcare landscape.
- Good for students in more underserved areas, though.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Medical Student (Rural New Mexico)
Age: 26 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This initiative is great for students like me. It incentivizes choosing specialties that can transform rural healthcare.
- More support can mean greater career opportunities once I graduate.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 10 | 8 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $150000000 (Low: $120000000, High: $180000000)
Year 2: $150000000 (Low: $120000000, High: $180000000)
Year 3: $150000000 (Low: $120000000, High: $180000000)
Year 5: $150000000 (Low: $120000000, High: $180000000)
Year 10: $150000000 (Low: $120000000, High: $180000000)
Year 100: $150000000 (Low: $120000000, High: $180000000)
Key Considerations
- Determine the precise number of grants distributed and their average size considering the prioritization criteria.
- Effectiveness depends significantly on public-private partnerships and engagement in states with identified need.
- Consideration of how funding amounts and recipient accountability will be structured.