A Democratic bill with 2 Republican cosponsors · See all 9 cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The Ensuring Access to General Surgery Act of 2026 seeks to amend the Public Health Service Act regarding the designation of general surgery shortage areas. The bill mandates that the Secretary conduct a study through the Health Resources and Services Administration to assess how underserved populations access general surgeons in urban, suburban, and rural areas. This study includes analyzing various methodologies, such as using hospital service areas and surgeon-to-population ratios, to determine shortages. The Secretary is also required to consider factors like wait times, health outcomes, and travel times to healthcare centers. Following the study, a report must be submitted to Congress within one year. Finally, the Secretary may establish a formal methodology through rulemaking to designate and maintain a list of general surgery shortage areas.
Yes· 3 of 10
- Scored +5
Would people in rural areas be better off under this?
The bill focuses on improving the assessment and designation of general surgery shortages specifically impacting rural communities.
- Scored +5
Does this make health care easier to get in general?
The bill directs a study to improve the identification and designation of areas experiencing general surgery shortages to ensure better access to care.
- Scored +4
Does this invest in rural communities?
The bill specifically aims to address the maldistribution of surgeons to ensure rural areas have better access to surgical services.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Improved assessment of healthcare needs: The bill directs the Secretary to study whether current shortage designations accurately reflect the actual needs of underserved populations in various areas (Section 3, subsection (b)(1)(A)).
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Enhanced data accuracy for shortages: The study aims to explore new ways to measure access, such as looking at surgeons practicing within specific hospital service areas, which may provide a more accurate picture of local availability (Section 3, subsection (b)(1)(B)).
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Comprehensive evaluation of surgical access: The methodology for determining shortages will consider critical factors beyond just numbers, such as wait times, health outcomes, and the time spent traveling to a healthcare center (Section 3, subsection (b)(2)(D)(ii)).
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Increased transparency of service availability: The Secretary will be required to periodically collect and publish data in the Federal Register comparing the availability and need of general surgery services across the United States (Section 3, subsection (b)(5)(A)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No specific negative impacts are explicitly detailed in the provided text.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — The bill focuses on improving the assessment and designation of general surgery shortages specifically impacting rural communities. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — Increased availability of surgical services can improve health outcomes for low-income populations in underserved areas. Would people over 65 be better off under this? — Better access to general surgeons can improve health outcomes for the aging population which relies more heavily on surgical services. Would Hispanic Americans be better off under this? — Improved access to healthcare services can benefit Hispanic communities residing in designated shortage areas. Would Native Americans be better off under this? — Improving surgical access can assist Native American populations living in underserved rural regions.
- Healthcare
- Does this make health care easier to get in general? — The bill directs a study to improve the identification and designation of areas experiencing general surgery shortages to ensure better access to care. Does this put more money into medical research? — The bill mandates a study by the Health Resources and Services Administration to research physician workforce needs and shortage methodologies.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this invest in rural communities? — The bill specifically aims to address the maldistribution of surgeons to ensure rural areas have better access to surgical services.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Is this likely to lift people out of poverty? — Improving healthcare access can help mitigate the financial and physical burdens of untreated health issues on low-income populations. Does this narrow racial gaps in how people are treated? — By improving access to surgical services in underserved areas, the bill may help reduce health disparities affecting various populations.
- 7/14/2026
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- 4/23/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 3/25/2026
- 3 Cosponsors added.
- 1/22/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- 3 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in House
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Sanford BishopDemocrat · Georgia
Don BaconRepublican · Nebraska
Salud CarbajalDemocrat · California
Sharice DavidsDemocrat · Kansas
John JoyceRepublican · Pennsylvania
Eleanor NortonDemocrat · District of Columbia
Mark PocanDemocrat · Wisconsin
Scott PetersDemocrat · California
Shri ThanedarDemocrat · Michigan