US HB7198

Amends the Public Health Service Act to establish a new "Subpart XIII—General Surgery Shortage Areas" enabling the Secretary of Health and Human Services to formally designate areas underserved by general surgeons in urban, suburban, and rural regions

Requires HRSA to conduct a study within 1 year examining whether current health professional shortage area designations accurately assess general surgeon availability, and to evaluate alternative methodologies such as hospital service area-based measures

Mandates development of surgeon-to-population ratios with four threshold levels: optimal supply, adequate supply, shortage, and critical shortage—considering factors like wait times, health outcomes, and ground transportation time to surgical care

Cites projected shortages of 15,800 to 30,200 surgeons across all surgical specialties by 2034, with rural areas currently having only 69% of general surgeons needed to meet demand

Requires the Secretary to periodically publish data in the Federal Register comparing general surgery availability and need, and to consult with medical societies, surgical facilities, and patient organizations in developing designation methodology