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Washington, D.C.—Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28) is working to improve access to healthcare services in rural communities by co-sponsoring an amendment that will create a grant opportunity to establish Graduate Medical Education programs for rural hospitals in medically underserved areas, including Critical Access Hospitals. Today, this amendment was passed in the U.S. House of Representatives along with H.R. 3, the Elijah E. Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act of 2019.

“To maintain healthy rural communities, it is critical that we have a strong rural health workforce. However, rural hospitals too often do not have the resources to train medical professionals in the types of unique medical care rural communities require,” Congressman Cuellar said. “This grant program will help rural hospitals improve their infrastructure and training opportunities, which will help them with recruiting and retaining their healthcare workforce. As a member of the Appropriations Committee, I am committed to funding programs that create high-quality healthcare in rural and underserved areas. I want to thank Congressman Tom O’Halleran for his dedication to this issue.”

This amendment authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services to award grants to hospitals in order to establish a medical residency training program or affiliate with an approved hospital to host residents. It would also provide grants to Critical Access Hospitals seeking to partner with an approved hospital.  Specifically, it would provide support for start-up costs, including for infrastructure, administrative fees, equipment, and supplies.

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