Community TEAMS Act Recognized and Supported on Capitol Hill
Published May 28, 2024
By AACOM Government Relations
Advocacy Federal Policy Healthcare Workforce OME Advocate Rural Medicine
The Community TEAMS Act (H.R. 7258/S. 3968) continues to gain momentum as Representatives Jill Tokuda (D-HI) and Dan Meuser (R-PA) signed on as cosponsors ahead of AACOM and ACOI’s congressional lunch briefing, “Rural and Underserved Health: DOs Mending the Breach.” The bicameral and bipartisan legislation was a feature focus during the discussion of legislative solutions to increase access to care in rural and underserved communities and improve health outcomes across populations.
Through creation of a new Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) grant program, the Community TEAMS Act will allow medical schools to partner with Federally Qualified Health Centers, Rural Health Clinics and other healthcare facilities located in medically underserved communities to increase medical school clinical rotations. Research shows that medical students receiving education and training in rural and underserved communities are more likely to stay and practice there. Expanding clinical rotation opportunities in rural and underserved areas is a crucial step toward strengthening the healthcare workforce pipeline.
Urge your Members of Congress to cosponsor the Community TEAMS Act to support increased funding for community-based training opportunities for medical students!