Blogs

For teaching hospitals seeking opportunities to expand Medicare-funded residency training capacity, Section 5506 of the Affordable Care Act provides an important pathway to consider. When a teaching hospital closes, CMS redistributes its available Medicare Direct Graduate Medical Education (DGME) and Indirect Medical Education (IME) resident cap slots to qualifying hospitals through a competitive application process. As of October 2026, three Section 5506 application rounds

The ACGME has released proposed major revisions to the Common Program Requirements for Residency, representing a significant update to the standards that shape residency education and program operations. Among the most notable aspects of the proposal is an approximately 43% reduction in the number of Common Program Requirements, reflecting a broader effort to streamline the requirements while maintaining expectations for high-quality physician education. The proposed requir

Healthcare organizations continue to navigate clinical workforce shortages alongside growing competition for healthcare talent. At the same time, evolving community health needs are reshaping where and how clinical capacity will be required. Despite their close connection, clinical workforce planning and educational programming decisions are often made through separate processes, using different data, stakeholders, and planning horizons. A stronger approach brings these activ

Recruitment season provides residency programs with an important opportunity to strengthen their selection processes and support the development of a diverse, well-matched resident class. With USMLE Step 1 now reported as pass/fail [5], programs have additional reason to establish explicit, consistent, and defensible approaches to holistic application review. As programs prepare for the Match cycle, implementing bias-aware practices throughout application review, interviewi

Recruiting a new class of residents and fellows is an opportunity for Graduate Medical Education programs to shape the future of their institutions, communities, and physician workforce. As applicant expectations continue to evolve, attracting candidates who align with a program’s mission and workforce needs requires an increasingly intentional approach. Program culture, mentorship, wellness, career development, compensation and benefits, and the overall training experience c

Graduate Medical Education programs that train Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) sponsored physicians on J-1 visas should begin preparing for new administrative considerations following a recent final rule issued by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). While additional implementation guidance is expected from both DHS and Intealth/ECFMG, the rule introduces changes that could affect how organizations manage physician training transitions,

Each year, the ACGME Resident and Faculty Surveys provide Graduate Medical Education programs with valuable insight into the learning environment, institutional culture, and compliance with accreditation requirements. While many programs focus on the survey during the administration period, the most effective organizations view survey results as a year-round quality improvement tool rather than a once-a-year benchmark. When survey results are reviewed thoughtfully and consi

On July 31, 2026, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the Final FY 2027 Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS) Rule. The final rule includes several changes relevant to Graduate Medical Education (GME), including long-awaited clarification of the criteria used to determine whether a residency program qualifies as new for Medicare cap-building purposes. CMS also finalized new nondiscrimination requirements, clarified the calculation of GME payments

The beginning of a new academic year marks an important milestone for Graduate Medical Education programs. While much of the focus is on welcoming new residents and fellows, supporting faculty, and ensuring a smooth start to training, it is also an ideal time for hospitals and health systems to begin planning for the year ahead. One area that deserves early attention is Medicare GME Affiliation Agreements. For organizations that train residents across multiple affiliated ho

The start of a new academic year brings significant change across Graduate Medical Education programs. Incoming residents and fellows begin training, graduating trainees transition out, block schedules are updated, and participating sites and rotations are finalized. While these activities are essential to supporting resident education, they also have an important impact on Medicare GME reimbursement. Because resident data serves as the foundation for reimbursement calculat

The start of a new academic year is one of the most significant milestones in Graduate Medical Education. New residents and fellows are beginning their training, advancing trainees are stepping into expanded responsibilities, and faculty and program leaders are welcoming a new cohort of learners while maintaining day-to-day program operations. While substantial effort goes into preparing for July 1, success during the academic year depends on more than a well-executed orien

Graduate Medical Education programs play a critical role in developing the future physician workforce. As healthcare organizations work to meet the needs of increasingly diverse patient populations, many programs are evaluating how their recruitment, retention, and learning environment strategies contribute to workforce development goals and long-term program success. Creating a strong learning environment requires thoughtful efforts to support trainees throughout their edu

As the start of a new academic year approaches, Graduate Medical Education programs across the country are preparing to welcome incoming residents and fellows. The weeks leading up to July 1 provide a critical opportunity to verify key processes, strengthen communication, and ensure operational readiness across the institution. Drawing on more than 20 years of experience supporting GME programs nationwide, Germane Solutions has identified several important areas for program

As the Graduate Medical Education recruitment landscape becomes increasingly competitive, programs must go beyond fragmented outreach efforts and develop clear, intentional marketing strategies that effectively communicate who they are and what they offer. Applicant expectations continue to evolve, and digital touchpoints now play a critical role in how prospective residents and fellows evaluate programs, engage with institutions, and ultimately make ranking decisions. Join

ACGME Resident and Faculty Survey data provide valuable insight into the learning environment, program culture, and institutional performance. However, while the reports contain meaningful information, interpreting that data in a way that leads to actionable improvement can be time intensive, particularly during Annual Program Evaluation (APE) and annual reporting cycles. As AI tools continue to evolve, many GME leaders are beginning to explore how these technologies can su

Germane Solutions is thrilled to announce our strategic partnership with Clinician Nexus, introducing a new, integrated solution designed to help health systems strengthen and sustain their clinical workforce: Pipeline to Practice. As healthcare organizations face increasing pressure to align clinical education with long-term workforce needs, many are navigating fragmented systems, limited visibility into learner pipelines, and challenges translating strategy into execution

With all 50 states approved for funding under the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP), attention is shifting from allocation to implementation. First-year awards, ranging from approximately $147 million to $281 million per state, represent a significant investment in strengthening healthcare delivery across rural communities throughout the United States. As states begin to develop distribution priorities and deploy these funds, healthcare institutions and their acade

With the 2026 Match cycle now behind us, many Graduate Medical Education programs are taking time to reflect on their recruitment outcomes and approach. For some, this year reinforced strategies that are already working well. For others, it highlighted opportunities to strengthen how programs engage with applicants and position themselves in an increasingly competitive environment. Regardless of the outcome, each recruitment cycle represents a significant investment of tim

Germane Solutions is thrilled to announce our attendance at the 2026 AHME Institute, where leaders across Graduate Medical Education will come together to explore innovative approaches, strengthen leadership capabilities, and advance the future of GME. As the healthcare landscape continues to evolve, GME leaders are navigating increasing complexity across operations, workforce development, and program sustainability. This year’s AHME Institute will focus on key areas that a

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently released the proposed 2027 Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS) rule, introducing several updates that may impact Allied Health and Graduate Medical Education (GME) strategy, reimbursement, and program development. While the rule includes a wide range of policy updates, several proposed changes are particularly relevant for hospitals and health systems involved in residency training. Below are key highlights