The Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act: An opportunity to address the rural dermatology workforce deficit

Abstract

Access to dermatological care is especially challenging in rural America, with a greater density of dermatologists concentrated in urban areas.1 One strategy for expanding the dermatology workforce is increasing the number of dermatology residency training positions, including in rural settings.2 In the Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA) of 2021, the Congress allocated Medicare funding for 1000 residency positions over 5 years, effectively ending the 25-year federal funding drought for graduate medical education.