# 119-hr-870: Physicians for Underserved Areas Act

119-hr-870, Physicians for Underserved Areas Act, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Lee, Susie [D-NV-3] (D-NV); status introduced; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-04-21).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-870
- As of: 2026-04-21
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-hr-870
- Congress: 119
- Title: Physicians for Underserved Areas Act
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2025-01-31
- Sponsor: Rep. Lee, Susie [D-NV-3] (D-NV)
- Cosponsors: 1
- Policy area: Health
- Touches household money: yes
- Last recorded action: 2026-04-21

## Summary

**This bill would change how Medicare residency slots freed by hospital closures are reassigned, prioritizing programs that can put them to use quickly.** It tightens the rules that define which programs are "likely" recipients so redistributed slots go to programs ready to start and fill positions on a clear timetable. - Residency programs and teaching hospitals: The bill revises Section 1886(h)(4)(H)(vi) by redesignating sub-items and moving a priority from "Fourth" to "Third". That changes the order in which applicants are considered for available slots. - Programs that can use slots quickly: The definition of "likelihood" now requires a program to start using positions within 2 years and fill them within 5 years to qualify. Programs that cannot meet those timelines are less likely to receive redistributed slots. - Closed hospitals and future closures: The new redistribution rules apply to hospitals that close on or after the date of enactment.

## Cosponsors (1)

- Rep. Balderson, Troy [R-OH-12] (R-OH), 2025-01-31T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- Faster Medicare residency slots after hospital closures: benefit, low. If enacted, when a hospital closes, Medicare would move its residency training slots. A hospital would count as likely to fill if it starts using the slots within 2 years and fills them within 5 years. The rule would apply only to hospitals that close on or after enactment. It would also update som…

## Related bills

- 119-hr-7977: Energy Bills Relief Act
- 119-hr-4393: DIGNIDAD (Dignity) Act of 2025
- 119-hr-7973: Momnibus Act
- 119-hr-4669: FEMA Act of 2025
- 119-hr-4206: CONNECT for Health Act of 2025
- 119-hr-6766: Essential Caregivers Act of 2025

## Sources
- [119-hr-870 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/870)

## Related
- [119-hr-7977: Energy Bills Relief Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-7977)
- [119-hr-4393: DIGNIDAD (Dignity) Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-4393)
- [119-hr-7973: Momnibus Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-7973)
- [119-hr-4669: FEMA Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-4669)
- [119-hr-4206: CONNECT for Health Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-4206)
- [119-hr-6766: Essential Caregivers Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-6766)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-870 (as of 2026-04-21).