The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has opened its application process for the next round of 200 Graduate Medical Education (GME) slots provided by the Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA) of 2021. The slots are the third allocation from 1,000 new Medicare-funded residency positions authorized over five years under Section 126 of the law. The application will be available until March 31. Awards from this application cycle will be effective July 1, 2025.
The American College of Radiology® (ACR®) has advocated for expansion of GME and supported the additional slots. These slots will enhance the healthcare workforce as shortages persist and fund additional positions in hospitals serving underserved communities.
In order to be eligible for these additional full-time equivalent (FTE) resident cap slots, a hospital must qualify in at least one of four categories: hospitals in rural areas (or treated as being located in a rural area under the law); hospitals training a number of residents in excess of their GME cap; hospitals in states with new medical schools or branch campuses and hospitals that serve areas designated as health professional shortage areas (HPSAs). Additionally, no hospital can receive more than 25 FTE resident cap slots.
Last month, CMS published the list of 200 GME slots awarded in the second round of distribution under Section 126 of the CAA. The slots were awarded to 99 of the 229 hospitals that applied. View CMS' full list of awardees and applicants.
ACR encourages its members to make their institutions aware of the application process to qualify for additional GME slots. Additional resources are available on the CMS DGME website (under the Section 126 resources tab) to assist hospitals with the application process.
For questions or additional information, contact Ashley Walton, ACR Government Affairs Director.