Ensuring Access to General Surgery Act of 2026

New general surgery shortage designations

If enacted, HHS would direct HRSA to study access to general surgeons and create rules to name general surgery shortage areas. The study would map hospital surgery service areas using ZIP Code Medicare patient origin data and identify all actively practicing general surgeons. The Secretary would set four supply levels: optimal, adequate, shortage, and critical shortage. When setting thresholds, the Secretary would not assume current nationwide supply is adequate and would consider wait times, health outcomes, ground travel time, critical access hospitals without surgeons, and patient experience. If adopted by notice-and-comment rulemaking, the Secretary would publish descriptive lists, compare urban, suburban, and rural data in the Federal Register, and review and update designations every year. The Secretary would consult medical and patient groups and report findings to Congress within one year after enactment.