2021 AACOM GR Year in Review

Expansion of the Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education Program 

• The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 extended the Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education (THCGME) Program funding at current levels through fiscal year (FY) 2023.
• The American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act of 2021, provided $330 million for the THCGME Program to create new sites, expand existing sites and increase the per resident allocation.

Senate Encourages Osteopathic NIH Research

• The Senate FY22 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies spending bill included language in its Explanatory Statement urging the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to increase funding for colleges of osteopathic medicine as well as representation of DOs on NIH National Advisory Councils and study sections.
  • “The Committee supports access to NIH research funding for osteopathic medical schools. The Committee is concerned by the historical disparity in NIH funding as osteopathic professionals receive only 0.1 percent of NIH grants, yet osteopathic medicine is one of the fastest growing healthcare professions in the country and osteopathic medical schools educate 25 percent of all medical students.” View complete statement. 

Executive Action and Legislation to Authorize Vaccination by Health Professions Students During Public Health Emergencies

• AACOM spearheaded the Students Assist America’s initiative to allow health professions students to administer COVID-19 vaccines.
• The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services issued the Seventh Amendment to the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness (PREP) Act on March 12, providing liability protections for health professions students who administer COVID-19 vaccines.
• Congress introduced legislation to make permanent the authority from the PREP Act Declaration authorizing students from designated health professions to administer vaccinations during future public health emergencies.
  • Senators Mark Kelly (D-AZ) and Susan Collins (R-ME) introduced S. 2114, the Student Assisted Vaccination Effort Act, on June 17, 2021.
  • Representatives Tom O’Halleran (D-AZ) and David McKinley (R-WV) introduced a House companion bill, H.R. 5699, on October 22, 2021.

OME Priorities Included in COVID-19 Stimulus and FY21 Omnibus Package

• Established 1,000 new graduate medical education (GME) training slots for teaching hospitals with at least 10 percent for rural areas, addressed the resident rotator issue and eased rural training track requirements.
• $120 million for the National Health Service Corps (NHSC).
• $22.7 billion for the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund, with $20.2 billion for public and private, non-profit institutions of higher education.
• $25.4 billion for COVID-19 for testing and contact tracing with targeted funds to improve these efforts in high-risk and underserved populations.

CMS Releases Regulations for 1,000 New GME Slots

• OME priorities were included in the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services final rule to distribute 1,000 new Medicare-funded GME positions beginning in FY23, address the resident rotator issue and ease rural training track requirements, including:
  • Reserving at least 10 percent of the new GME slots for rural areas;
  • Maintaining the AACOM-supported hospital eligibility criteria to apply for the new GME slots;
  • Increasing maximum award sizes to 5.0 FTEs per hospital per year; and
  • Adjusting application deadlines for qualifying hospitals to apply for the new GME slots.

Congress Advances Legislation to Address Healthcare Professionals’ Mental Health 

• The House and Senate passed versions of the Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act (H.R. 1667/S. 610) to reduce and prevent suicide, burnout and mental and behavioral health conditions among healthcare professionals. Due to small changes made in the House, this version of the bill still needs Senate approval, which is expected.

Extension of Student Loan Repayment Moratorium

• The Biden Administration extended the freeze on student loan payments until May 1, 2022. The moratorium was set to expire on January 31, 2002, and suspends all payments on loands owned by ED and sets interest rates at zero percent.
• AACOM continues to advocate for policies that ease the significant financial burden faced by healthcare providers as they respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and future public health crises.

OME Priorities Achieved in House-Passed Build Back Better (BBB) Legislation​ (Pending Senate Action)

• 4,000 new Medicare-funded GME slots with a rural and primary care focus​;
• $3.37 billion for the THCGME​ Program;
• $2 billion for the NHSC;​
• $500 million for schools of medicine in underserved areas; ​
• $200 million for Children's Hospitals Graduate Medical Education​;
• $20 million for palliative medicine physician training;
• 500 new residency positions at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA); and ​
• 1,000 scholarships per year in a new Rural and Underserved Pathway to Practice Training Program.

OME Leaders Appointed and Nominated to Federal Advisory Committees

• Christopher J. Loyke, DO, appointed to the VA, National Academic Affiliations Council.
• David Connett, DO, FACOFP dist., nominated to the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission.
• John Hummer, MS, and Ashley Ann Reich, MA, EdS, nominated to the U.S. Department of Education (ED) negotiated rulemaking committee on Affordability and Student Loans.
• John Hummer, MS, nominated to the ED negotiated rulemaking committee on Institutional and Programmatic Eligibility.
• Richard T. Jermyn, DO, FAAPMR, nominated to the NIH Interagency Pain Research Coordinating Committee.
• J. Michael Finley, DO, nominated to the NIH National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Advisory Council.
• Raymond G. Lande, DO, nominated to the NIH National Institute on Drug Abuse's Advisory Council on Drug Abuse.

Government Relations Department Staff and Structure Improvements

• GR Department Restructuring: In 2021, the AACOM Government Relations (GR) Department was restructured to maximize the human resources and align with AACOM’s strategic objectives. Staffing positions were revised and updated, new staff were hired, existing staff took on new roles and responsibilities and new external lobbyists were retained. The department is now fully staffed, restructured and operating in alignment with AACOM’s mission and strategic priorities.
• Grassroots Action Center: To harness membership engagement, influence federal policy and provide updates on legislative and regulatory priorities, GR launched a new, online grassroots Action Center. Members can use the platform to connect directly with Congress in support of legislation and comment on regulatory proposals impacting the OME community. Over 3,000 grassroots advocacy messages have been sent to Congress.

AACOM Talent Bank Established to Increase Osteopathic Representation

• AACOM created a Talent Bank to help identify experts from the osteopathic medical education community to serve on federal and state government advisory boards and committees.

2021 AACOM Advocacy Day

• Advocates from 45 colleges of osteopathic medicine, branch campuses and additional locations met with 124 congressional offices in support of AACOM’s federal policy priorities as part of AACOM Advocacy Day on October 6 and 7.

Please contact AACOM Government Relations at aacomgr@aacom.org with questions or for further information.

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