Charter

Council on Graduate Medical Education

Committee’s official designation  

Council on Graduate Medical Education (COGME) or “Advisory Council.”

Authority  

The COGME is a statutorily mandated advisory committee required by section 762 (42 U.S.C. § 294o) of the Public Health Service (PHS) Act, as amended. Except where otherwise indicated, the Council is governed by provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972 (5 U.S.C. 10), as amended.

Objectives and scope of activities

The COGME provides recommendations to the Secretary of Health and Human Services (Secretary) and Congress on the matters set forth in section 762 of the PHS Act (42 U.S.C. § 294o).

Description of duties 

The Advisory Council shall:  

1. Make recommendations to the Secretary, the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate, and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives, with respect to:
   1. The supply and distribution of physicians in the United States;
   2. Current and future shortages or excesses of physicians in medical and surgical specialties and subspecialties;
   3. Issues relating to international medical school graduates;
   4. Appropriate federal policies with respect to the matters specified in subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C), including policies concerning changes in the financing of undergraduate and graduate medical education programs and changes in the types of medical education training in graduate medical education programs;
   5. Appropriate efforts to be carried out by hospitals, schools of medicine, schools of osteopathic medicine, and accrediting bodies with respect to the matters specified in subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C), including efforts for changes in undergraduate and graduate medical education programs; and
   6. Deficiencies in, and needs for improvements in, existing databases concerning the supply and distribution of, and postgraduate training programs for, physicians in the United States and steps that should be taken to eliminate those deficiencies.
2. Encourage entities providing graduate medical education to conduct activities to voluntarily achieve the recommendations of the Advisory Council under paragraph (1)(E);
3. Develop, publish, and implement performance measures for programs under Title VII of the PHS Act, except for programs under Parts C or D;
4. Develop and publish guidelines for longitudinal evaluations (as described in section 761(d)(2) (42 U.S.C. § 294n(d)(2)) for programs under the PHS Act, Title VII, except for programs under Parts C or D;
5. Recommend appropriation levels for programs under PHS Act, Title VII, except for programs under Parts C or D; and
6. Not less than every 5 years, the Council shall submit to the Secretary, and to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives, a report on the recommendations described in the Description of Duties section of this Charter.

In order to carry out the provisions of the authorizing statute, the Advisory Council is authorized to:

1. Collect such information, hold such hearings, and sit and act at such times and places, either as a whole or by subcommittee, and request the attendance and testimony of such witnesses and the production of such books, records, correspondence, memoranda, papers, and documents as the Advisory Council or such subcommittee may consider available; and
2. Request the cooperation and assistance of federal departments, agencies, and instrumentalities, and such departments, agencies, and instrumentalities are authorized to provide such cooperation and assistance.

Agency or official to whom the committee reports

The COGME is authorized to provide advice and make policy recommendations to the Secretary, the Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions of the Senate, and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives.

Support

Management and support services are provided by the Bureau of Health Workforce (BHW) of the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).

Estimated annual operating costs and staff years

The estimated annual cost for operating COGME, including compensation and travel expenses for members but excluding staff support, is $73,146. Estimated staff support required is 1.15 FTE years at an estimated annual cost of $252,216.

Designated Federal Officer

A full-time federal employee, appointed in accordance with Agency procedure, will serve as the Designated Federal Officer (DFO) and ensure that all procedures are within applicable statutory, regulatory, and the Department of Health and Human Services (Department) General Administration Manual directives. The DFO (or designee) approves and prepares all meeting agendas, calls all Advisory Council or subcommittee meetings, attends all Advisory Council and subcommittee meetings, adjourns any meeting when the DFO (or designee) determines adjournment to be in the public interest, and chairs meetings when directed to do so by the HRSA Administrator.

Estimated number and frequency of meetings  

The COGME shall meet at least twice per year. Each Advisory Council meeting must be called or approved by the DFO. Meetings shall be open to the public except as determined otherwise by the Secretary or designee in accordance with the Government in the Sunshine Act (5 U.S.C. 552b(c)) and the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972 (5 U.S.C. 10). Notice of all meetings shall be given to the public. Meetings shall be conducted and records of the proceedings kept, as required by applicable laws and departmental regulations.

Duration  

Continuing  

Termination 

Unless renewed by appropriate action prior to its expiration, COGME’s charter will terminate 2 years from the date the charter is filed.

Membership and designation 

The COGME shall consist of 18 voting members:

1. The Assistant Secretary for Health or the designee of the Assistant Secretary;
2. the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services or designee;
3. the Chief Medical Director of the Department of Veterans Affairs or designee;
4. the Administrator of HRSA or designee;
5. six members appointed by the Secretary to include representatives of practicing primary care physicians, national and specialty physician organizations, international medical graduates, and medical student and house staff associations;
6. four members appointed by the Secretary to include representatives of schools of medicine and osteopathic medicine, and public and private teaching hospitals; and
7. four members appointed by the Secretary to include representatives of health insurers, business, and labor.

The Secretary, in appointing the 14 non-federal members, ensures a broad geographic representation of members and a balance between urban and rural educational settings. Members shall be appointed based on their competence, interest, and knowledge of the area that they represent. Non-federal members are appointed as Special Government Employees.

Non-federal members of the Advisory Council appointed under (5), (6), and (7) above are appointed for a term of 4 years. The Advisory Council elects one of its members as Chair. Nine members of the Advisory Council constitute a quorum, but a lesser number may hold hearings. Any vacancy in the Advisory Council does not affect its power to function.

Subcommittees

Standing and ad hoc subcommittees, composed of members of the parent committee, may be established with the approval of the Secretary or designee to perform specific functions within the Advisory Council’s jurisdiction. Subcommittees must report back to the parent Advisory Council, and do not provide advice or work products directly to the Department or HRSA. The Department’s Committee Management Officer will be notified upon the establishment of each subcommittee and will be provided information on the subcommittee’s name, membership, function, and estimated frequency of meetings.

Recordkeeping

Records of the Advisory Council, formally and informally established subcommittees, or other subgroups of the Advisory Council, shall be handled in accordance with General Records Schedule 6.2, or other approved agency records disposition schedule. These records shall be available for public inspection and copying, subject to the Freedom of Information Act, 5 U.S.C. 552.

Filing date 

September 30, 2024

Approved

September 18, 2024

/s/ Carole Johnson 
Administrator, Health Resources and Services Administration