The Fair Access In Residency (FAIR) Act, H.R. 751, was reintroduced on February 2, 2023 to ensure all Medicare-funded residency programs accept DO applications and their exam, COMLEX-USA. Representatives Diana Harshbarger (R-TN), Chellie Pingree (D-ME), Sam Graves (R-MO) and Jared Golden (D-ME) championed the bipartisan legislation to address the unfair and unsustainable system that excludes DOs from residencies or requires them to take the USMLE. These practices exacerbate the workforce shortage and impinge on healthcare access by limiting the availability of licensed DO physicians. 

Taxpayer-funded GME programs should ensure fair consideration of residency applications from both DOs and MDs. According to National Resident Matching Program, 32% of residency program directors never or seldom interview DO candidates, and of those that do, at least 56% require the USMLE from DO applicants. DOs represent more than 25% of all medical students and are one of the fastest growing health profession in the country. The demands of medical school are exhausting and DO students shouldn’t be required to spend the $2200 and 32 hours, plus study costs and time, for a second exam that isn’t required for their medical license. 

The FAIR Act will help ease the physician shortage, support equitable treatment of osteopathic medical students and increase access to high-quality, patient-centered healthcare in rural and underserved areas.