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H.R. 7198119th CongressIn committeeLatest action Jan 22, 2026Decoded by AI · checked against the record
Official title: Ensuring Access to General Surgery Act of 2026
Introduced:
Read the official bill on Congress.govThe plain-language version leads. The official text is always the reference.
HR 7198 orders a one-year federal study on general surgeon shortages and lets HHS create official shortage designations by ZIP code.
55-second read · 4 questions answered below
HR 7198 directs the Health Resources and Services Administration to complete within one year a study on the national shortage of general surgeons and report findings to Congress. The study would examine patient wait times, health outcomes, travel distances, and whether hospitals in a given area have surgical services. Based on findings, the Secretary of Health and Human Services could establish a formal process to designate areas as general surgery shortage zones, reviewed annually.
Residents of rural communities are most directly affected, as the bill notes those areas currently have only about 69 percent of the general surgeons needed. Hospitals, medical organizations, patient groups, and doctors completing their training would also be involved or affected by resulting designations.
The bill states the existing system for labeling health professional shortage areas may not accurately identify where general surgeons specifically are lacking. Shortage designations can influence where new physicians choose or are incentivized to practice, which could shift the distribution of surgical providers over time.
AI-drafted summary. Verify it against the official text before you act on it. Read the official bill on Congress.gov
Right now: a House committee is reviewing it. If the Senate changes it, it goes back to the House before reaching the President.
Latest action: — Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.