A U.S. congressional committee is launching an investigation into the placement of medical students into residency training programs, raising concerns about antitrust issues in the healthcare industry. The Republican leadership of the House Judiciary Committee’s antitrust panel has sent letters to several major university hospitals and medical organizations, demanding documents as part of the inquiry.
According to Reuters, the committee has specifically targeted groups such as the American Medical Association (AMA), the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP), and major institutions like Duke University Health System, MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, and Stanford University Medical Center for documents and records on residency practices.
The inquiry stems from concerns that Congress’ decision to shield medical residency practices from antitrust laws in 2004 may have led to unintended consequences. The House subcommittee, in letters sent to the organizations on Friday, stated that these protections might be harming medical applicants and
patients alike.