H.R. 7198 · 119th Congress
Ensuring Access to General Surgery Act of 2026
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D
BeraSponsor9 cosponsors · 7 D, 2 R
3 signed on when it was introduced; the rest joined later. Cosponsors who withdrew aren't shown.
This bill requires the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to study access to general surgeons by underserved populations.
What it does: CRS summary · Introduced in House · Jan 22, 2026
Ensuring Access to General Surgery Act of 2026
This bill requires the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to study access to general surgeons by underserved populations.
Specifically, HRSA must study (1) whether the health professional shortage area designation under the National Health Service Corps (NHSC) program accurately assesses adequacy of access to general surgeons, (2) whether another measure would be more accurate, and (3) potential methodologies for designating general surgery shortage areas. (The NHSC provides scholarships and student loan repayment awards to primary care, dental care, and mental health care providers who agree to work in areas that HRSA designates as having a shortage of those particular types of providers.)
HRSA must also publish data comparing the availability and need of general surgery services in urban, suburban, and rural areas.
On the basis of its study, HRSA may establish a methodology for designating general surgery shortage areas and make such designations. If any designations are made, HRSA must publish a list of general surgery shortage areas.
Written by the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service. All summary versions on Congress.gov
About this bill and sources
Official title: Ensuring Access to General Surgery Act of 2026
Latest action (Jan 22, 2026): Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Policy area: Health · Origin: House · Introduced: Jan 22, 2026
Official page on Congress.gov · Bill text (GovInfo) · Status record (XML)
No recorded floor vote found.