Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Community Training, Education, and Access for Medical Students Act of 2026” or the “Community TEAMS Act of 2026”.
Community Training, Education, and Access for Medical Students Act of 2026
A BILL
To amend the Public Health Service Act to provide community-based training opportunities for medical students in rural areas and medically underserved communities, and for other purposes.
Sec. 2 Grants for community-based training for medical students in rural areas and medically underserved communities
by redesignating subsections (h), (i), and (j) as subsections (i), (j), and (k), respectively; and
by inserting after subsection (g) the following:
“(h) Grants for community-Based training for medical students in rural areas and medically underserved communities
“(1) Grants—The Director may award grants to eligible entities to expand the availability of community-based training for medical students in rural areas and medically underserved communities, including by supporting clinical rotations in health care facilities in such areas and communities, including in outpatient settings, to facilitate long-term, sustainable physician practice in high-need communities.
“(2) Period of grants—A grant under this subsection shall be for a period of 1 to 5 years, as determined by the Director.
“(3) Eligibility—To be eligible for a grant under this subsection, an entity shall be a consortium of the following:
“(A) One or more schools of osteopathic medicine or allopathic medicine.
“(B) One or more of the following:
“(i) A rural health clinic.
“(ii) A Federally qualified health center.
“(iii) A health care facility located in a medically underserved community.
“(4) Applications—An eligible entity desiring a grant under this subsection shall, in consultation with the appropriate State office of rural health or another appropriate State entity, submit to the Director an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Director may require, including—
“(A) a description of the project that the eligible entity will carry out using the funds provided through the grant;
“(B) an explanation of the reasons why Federal assistance is required to carry out the project;
“(C) a description of the manner in which the project funded through the grant will ensure continuous quality improvement in the provision of services by the entity;
“(D) a description of how the populations in the rural area or medically underserved community to be served through the grant will experience increased access to quality health care services across the continuum of care as a result of the activities carried out by the entity;
“(E) a plan for sustaining the project after Federal support for the project has ended;
“(F) a description of how the project will be evaluated; and
“(G) such other information as the Director determines to be appropriate.”
in subsection (a), by striking “and for the planning and implementation of small health care provider quality improvement activities” and inserting “for the planning and implementation of small health care provider quality improvement activities, and for expanding the availability of community-based training for medical students in rural areas and medically underserved communities”;
in subsection (b), by inserting “In this section:” after “Definitions—”;
in subsection (d)(2)—
in subparagraph (A), by striking “subsections (e), (f), and (g)” and inserting “subsections (e), (f), (g), and (h)”; and
in subparagraph (B)—
in clause (ii), by striking “and” at the end;
in clause (iii), by striking the period at the end and inserting “; and”; and
by adding at the end the following:
“(iv) expand the availability of community-based training for medical students in rural areas and medically underserved communities under subsection (h).”
in subsection (j), as so redesignated, by striking “subsections (e), (f), and (g)” and inserting “subsections (e), (f), (g), and (h)”; and
in subsection (k), as so redesignated, by striking “2021 through 2025” and inserting “2026 through 2030”.