NCSL Legislative Video Resource Center

As physician shortages continue to grow across the country, states are exploring ways to increase the supply of doctors. While medical school enrollment has grown 33% since 2002, the number of residencies available for medical school graduates has not kept pace. Funding is often the primary barrier for expanding residency programs. Behind Medicare, Medicaid is the second-largest explicit source of funding for graduate medical education in the United States, and it gives states significant flexibility in designing funding programs. This NCSL webinar will cover Medicaid’s role in funding residency programs, with perspectives from national and state experts on recent state trends in addressing workforce shortages.

To address closures of rural hospitals and increase access to care in rural communities, Congress established Rural Emergency Hospitals as a new provider type for eligible rural hospitals, effective January 2023. This NCSL webinar will explore the new designation, including its intended purpose, program rules, requirements and potential challenges and opportunities for states. Attendees will hear about recent state legislative activity regarding rural emergency hospitals from national experts and several state legislators.

This webinar is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of an award totaling $813,543 with 100% funded by HRSA/HHS. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government.