Rural Residency Planning and Development Act of 2026
The source supplies the latest action, but no lifecycle stage.
Latest action (4 Aug 2026): Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
What this bill does
S. 5232, the Rural Residency Planning and Development Act of 2026, would amend the Public Health Service Act to let the Secretary of Health and Human Services award grants for two related purposes: establishing new physician residency programs in rural areas (or adding rural training sites to existing programs), and providing technical assistance to organizations applying for or running those grants. Residency grants would run three years, technical-assistance grants four years, both extendable at the Secretary's discretion and able to be fully funded upfront. Supported residency programs would train physicians in rural areas for more than half their residency, focused on fields like family medicine, internal medicine, psychiatry, general surgery, or maternal health/obstetrics.
Eligible applicants include nonprofit and for-profit entities, Indian Tribes and Tribal organizations, rural hospitals, rural health clinics, Tribal or urban Indian health centers, and graduate medical education consortiums such as medical schools and HBCUs. The bill would authorize $12.7 million per year for fiscal years 2027 through 2031, with funds remaining available until spent.
The bill was introduced in the Senate on August 4, 2026, by Sen. Tina Smith (D-MN) with Sen. Susan Collins as a cosponsor. It has been read twice and referred to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, where it awaits further committee action before any vote.
Plain-English summary generated by Bill100 AI from the official record. Always verify against the source below.
Timeline
4 Aug 2026
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Common questions
- What does S. 5232 do?
- S. 5232, the Rural Residency Planning and Development Act of 2026, would amend the Public Health Service Act to let the Secretary of Health and Human Services award grants for two related purposes: establishing new physician residency programs in rural areas (or adding rural training sites to existing programs), and providing technical assistance to organizations applying for or running those grants. Residency grants would run three years, technical-assistance grants four years, both extendable at the Secretary's discretion and able to be fully funded upfront. Supported residency programs would train physicians in rural areas for more than half their residency, focused on fields like family medicine, internal medicine, psychiatry, general surgery, or maternal health/obstetrics. Eligible applicants include nonprofit and for-profit entities, Indian Tribes and Tribal organizations, rural hospitals, rural health clinics, Tribal or urban Indian health centers, and graduate medical education consortiums such as medical schools and HBCUs. The bill would authorize $12.7 million per year for fiscal years 2027 through 2031, with funds remaining available until spent. The bill was introduced in the Senate on August 4, 2026, by Sen. Tina Smith (D-MN) with Sen. Susan Collins as a cosponsor. It has been read twice and referred to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, where it awaits further committee action before any vote.
- Has S. 5232 become law?
- The source does not supply a confirmed lifecycle stage for S. 5232. Check the latest action and official source below.
- Who sponsored S. 5232?
- S. 5232 was sponsored by Sen. Smith, Tina [D-MN] (D-MN), with 1 cosponsor.
- What's the latest action on S. 5232?
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (4 Aug 2026).
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