Bipartisan legislation in the Senate and House has been reintroduced that ensures an equal path to residency for DOs and MDs.  The Fair Access In Residency (FAIR) Act (S. 2715 / H.R. 2314) ensures all Medicare-funded residency programs accept DO applications and the COMLEX-USA. 

Specifically, the legislation establishes two reporting requirements for Medicare-funded GME programs:

• An annual report detailing the number of DO and MD applicants and accepted residents.
• An affirmation that DO applications and COMLEX-USA exam scores are accepted for consideration.

Programs that fail to comply would face a 2 percent annual reduction in Indirect Medical Education payments.

It is ACOI’s position that the FAIR Act constitutes a reasonable approach to ensuring osteopathic medical students can fairly compete for federally supported residency training positions.

Take action by asking your members of Congress to cosponsor the Fair Act.