WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, the Health Resources and Services Administration announced a $750,000 award to Princeton Community Hospital Association as part of the Rural Residency Planning and Development program. Funding is used to expand and improve access to health care in rural areas, supporting start-up costs to create new rural residency programs, including Rural Track Programs (RTPs), in qualifying medical specialties.
“The Rural Residency Planning and Development Program is vital to addressing physician shortages in rural communities. By studying and practicing in rural areas, our next generation of physicians can be better equipped to handle the unique challenges these areas bring, and studies show physicians who train in rural areas are more likely to stay there long-term. I was happy to join in colleagues last December in introducing legislation to authorize the Rural Residency Planning and Development Program, and am thrilled to see the Princeton Community Hospital Association receive this award. This funding will improve access to quality, life-saving care in our rural communities, and help Make America Healthy Again,” said Congresswoman Miller.
Background
- In December 2025, Congresswoman Miller introduced the Rural Residency Planning and Development Act, authorizing the Rural Residency Planning and Development Program.
- Only 2% of residency training occurs in rural areas. Training physicians in rural areas improves access to care and also increases the likelihood of practicing in a rural community.
- Nearly 20% of Americans live in rural areas, but only 10% of physicians practice in these communities.
- The United States continues to face a serious physician shortage, especially in rural communities. Current projections show the nation may fall short by up to 124,000 physicians in the next decade, with rural areas alone expecting to face a deficit of more than 20,000 primary care doctors by this year.
- Training, recruiting, and retaining physicians in rural communities is essential to ensuring that people living in these areas have reliable access to comprehensive health care services. ### |