The Medical Association of the State of Alabama on Thursday applauded U.S. Representatives Terri Sewell and Brian Fitzpatrick for introducing the Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act of 2025, a bipartisan bill that would add 14,000 new Medicare-supported medical residency slots nationwide over the next seven years. The legislation represents an important step forward in addressing Alabama’s and the nation’s growing physician workforce shortage.
“Expanding physician training is key to increasing access to care – especially in rural and underserved communities,” said Dr. Mark LeQuire, president of the Medical Association. “Physicians throughout Alabama thank Congresswoman Sewell for her leadership in addressing this critical need.”
The Medical Association noted that the bill builds upon efforts underway in Alabama to address the shortage of physicians. In 2023, the Alabama Legislature passed the Physician Workforce Act sponsored by Rep. Paul Lee and Sen. April Weaver, which reforms licensing processes and promotes in-state medical training. In addition, the state allocated $2 million from opioid settlement funds to support psychiatric residencies focused on substance use treatment and $2.4 million to the Primary Care Physician Residency Program with the Cahaba Clinic…