WASHINGTON, DC — Tuesday, June 10, Congresswoman Carol Miller (R-WV), and Congressmen Marc Veasey (D-TX), Sam Graves (R-MO), and Troy Carter (D-LA), reintroduced the Community Training, Education, and Access for Medical Students (TEAMS) Act. The Community TEAMS Act creates a Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) grant program which would provide community-based training for medical students in rural and medically underserved communities.
“Americans in rural communities deserve the same quality of health care treatment as patients in more populated areas. The Community TEAMS Act gives medical students the ability to adapt to medical challenges that may arise while serving in rural communities and provides them with opportunities to practice medicine in the rural workforce. By training medical students in underserved areas of our country, we are laying the foundation for better health care in the U.S.,” said Congresswoman Miller.
“In communities across the DFW area and throughout Texas, where many families rely on Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) for essential care, we need more medical professionals who are trained and ready to meet the needs of underserved populations. I am proud to help introduce the Community TEAMS Act, which will ensure that medical students gain the community-based training they need to serve communities like ours. By expanding medical training opportunities, we can improve health outcomes and make sure every patient, regardless of ZIP code or income, has access to high-quality care,” said Congressman Veasey.
“Being a doctor in a rural area provides a unique set of challenges. That’s why it’s critical our medical students have access to rural clinical settings, so they get the on the job training necessary to provide exceptional care to rural Americans. The Community Training, Education, Access for Medical Students Act does exactly that and I’m proud help introduce it,” said Congressman Graves.
“I’m proud to reintroduce the bipartisan Community TEAMS Act because I’m committed to strengthening our healthcare workforce and ensuring access to quality care for every community. This bill will expand clinical training in rural and underserved areas—where care is essential and where students can make the greatest impact. By forging partnerships between medical schools and community-based clinics, we are addressing provider shortages and investing in a healthcare system that reflects the people it serves. This is how we build a stronger, more equitable future in healthcare,” said Congressman Carter
The Community TEAMS Act is supported by the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM), the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine (WVSOM), the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), and the National Rural Health Association (NRHA):
“The American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine applauds Representatives Miller, Veasey, Graves and Carter for reintroducing the Community TEAMS Act. We need more medical school rotations in rural communities, as students who train in these areas are nearly three times more likely to return and serve them as physicians. With 64 percent of colleges of osteopathic medicine requiring clinical rotations in rural and underserved areas, this bill is a vital step toward expanding rural training opportunities, strengthening the physician workforce and improving healthcare access in communities that need it most,” said Robert A. Cain, DO, President and CEO of AACOM.
“On behalf of the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine (WVSOM) and the osteopathic medical community, I applaud Representatives Carol Miller, Marc Veasey, Sam Graves, and Troy Carter, for championing the Community TEAMS Act. A long-time champion of WVSOM, osteopathic medicine and rural health care, Rep. Carol Miller recognizes the importance of providing medical students with clinical training in community-based settings to ensure they understand the unique healthcare needs of rural and underserved populations. Rep. Miller knows this training also addresses our physician workforce shortage by increasing the probability these students will practice in the communities after graduation. Rep. Miller is a Congressional leader who understands the needs of her constituents and rural regions of this country. WVSOM and our students thank her for working to advance this critical legislation and support medical education,” said James W. Nemitz, Ph.D., President of the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine.
“The AAMC proudly supports the Community TEAMS Act, which takes a vital step toward strengthening the physician workforce by expanding clinical training in rural and underserved areas. This emphasis on the workforce is important and necessary now more than ever. We thank Representatives Carol Miller, Marc Veasey, Sam Graves, and Troy Carter for their leadership on this critical legislation that will help ensure future physicians are prepared to serve communities where they are needed most,” said Danielle Turnipseed, JD, MHSA, MPP, Chief Public Policy Officer, Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC).
“The National Rural Health Association thanks Representatives Miller, Veasey, Graves, and Carter for their introduction of the Community TEAMS Act. We know that where medical students rotate and train influences their decision of where they ultimately practice, making exposure to rural community-based settings key to recruiting and retaining a robust physician workforce. We applaud the Representatives for creating new opportunities for medical students to gain valuable rural outpatient experience during their academic careers,” said Alan Morgan, Chief Executive Officer, NRHA.
Click HERE for bill text.
Background:
