RECOMMENDATIONS ON LONG-TERM POLICIES REGARDING TEACHING HOSPITALS AND GRADUATE MEDICAL EDUCATION.

SEC. 4629. RECOMMENDATIONS ON LONG-TERM POLICIES REGARDING TEACHING HOSPITALS AND GRADUATE MEDICAL EDUCATION. (a) In General.—The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (established under section 1805 of the Social Security Act and in this section referred to as the “Commission”) shall examine and develop recommendations on whether and to what extent medicare payment policies and other Federal policies regarding teaching hospitals and graduate medical education should be changed. Such recommendations shall include recommendations regarding each of the following: (1) Possible methodologies for making payments for graduate medical education and the selection of entities to receive such payments. Matters considered under this paragraph shall include—111 STAT. 485 (A) issues regarding children’s hospitals and approved medical residency training programs in pediatrics, and (B) whether and to what extent payments are being made (or should be made) for training in the nursing and other allied health professions. (2) Federal policies regarding international medical graduates. (3) The dependence of schools of medicine on service-generated income. (4) Whether and to what extent the needs of the United States regarding the supply of physicians, in the aggregate and in different specialties, will change during the 10-year period beginning on October 1, 1997, and whether and to what extent any such changes will have significant financial effects on teaching hospitals. (5) Methods for promoting an appropriate number, mix, and geographical distribution of health professionals. (b) Consultation.—In conducting the study under subsection (a), the Commission shall consult with the Council on Graduate Medical Education and individuals with expertise in the area of graduate medical education, including— (1) deans from allopathic and osteopathic schools of medicine; (2) chief executive officers (or equivalent administrative heads) from academic health centers, integrated health care systems, approved medical residency training programs, and teaching hospitals that sponsor approved medical residency training programs; (3) chairs of departments or divisions from allopathic and osteopathic schools of medicine, schools of dentistry, and approved medical residency training programs in oral surgery; (4) individuals with leadership experience from representative fields of non-physician health professionals; (5) individuals with substantial experience in the study of issues regarding the composition of the health care workforce of the United States; and (6) individuals with expertise in health care payment policies. (c) Report.—Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Commission shall submit to the Congress a report providing its recommendations under this section and the reasons and justifications for such recommendations.