Committee backs bill to expand residency opportunities across the state

The Senate Education Committee voted to advance House Bill 19‑32, a measure intended to expand residency training opportunities for medical school graduates across the state.

Senator Eads presented the bill on behalf of Representative Johnson, saying the update adjusts the Graduate Medical Education (GME) Residency Expansion Board to add seats for Arkansas medical schools, residency sponsors and to open participation opportunities for rural hospitals. Maurice Rigsby, vice chancellor for UAMS, told the committee that Medicare historically capped residency slots and that new federal action in December 2020 lifted that cap to add 1,000 slots.

Rigsby said the bill is aimed at creating in‑state, state‑ or privately funded options for residency slots where Medicare slots were not available, especially in hospitals that have not historically sponsored residency programs. “The residency slots have been capped… In December, 2020, the cap was lifted to add an additional 1,000 slots,” Rigsby said, and the bill seeks ways to expand opportunities beyond Medicare funding.

Committee members asked whether eligible hospitals were being left out under current rules; proponents said the bill widens eligibility across the state rather than target specific facilities. After questions and a brief exchange, the committee moved and approved the bill by voice vote.

The bill now proceeds through the legislative process for further consideration and any required budget or implementation work.