A physician-owned health system serving more than 1.3 million residents through general acute care services, graduate medical education, and wellness and preventative programs across 70 sub-specialties faced a critical workforce challenge. As one of approximately 250 physician-owned hospitals nationwide, the system provides complex care to a large number of low-income patients in rural areas. To meet the needs of its community, the hospital needed to expand its physician and specialist workforce but was constrained by CMS’s graduate medical education (GME) funding caps.
The health system turned to Applied Policy for support in petitioning CMS to extend the GME cap building period. Working closely with the client, Applied Policy developed a strategy to highlight both the national physician shortage and the unique role physician-owned hospitals play in serving vulnerable populations. Central to this effort was a white paper drafted for Congressional leadership, academic institutions, and the broader medical community. The paper provided context on the GME funding issue, documented the disproportionate shortage of physicians nationwide, and called for an extension of the cap, as well as improved communication between CMS and GME program beneficiaries.
Through this targeted engagement, the hospital effectively communicated its policy priorities to a coalition of stakeholders, including the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) and the Council on Graduate Medical Education (COGME). The initiative gained support from 37 members of Congress and elevated the GME issue in mainstream health policy media. These efforts positioned the client to strengthen its residency programs, expand its physician workforce, and better serve the growing needs of its patient population.
