U.S. Senator Mike Lee announced on Apr. 16 the introduction of the Restoring Rights of Medical Residents Act, a bill aimed at repealing the federal antitrust exemption that currently applies to the medical residency matching system. Representative Victoria Spartz has introduced companion legislation in the House of Representatives.
The proposed legislation seeks to address concerns about limited competition and restricted economic freedom for medical residents by removing protections that shielded the National Resident Matching Program, known as “the Match,” from antitrust scrutiny since 2004.
“For decades, a government-protected system dictated where new doctors work and what their compensation would be,” said Senator Mike Lee. “The Restoring Rights of Medical Residents Act restores the rule of law by ensuring this system is no longer exempt from antitrust scrutiny.”
Nearly all U.S. medical residency positions are filled through this centralized Match system, which uses an algorithm to assign placements based on ranked preferences submitted by applicants and programs. Under current rules, residents cannot negotiate salaries or seek alternative offers outside of this process.
According to Lee’s office, first-year residents earned about $66,712 in 2024—an amount described as below market rates for comparable professionals—and approximately 20% of U.S. medical graduates fail each year to secure residency positions due to constraints within the existing structure.
The Restoring Rights of Medical Residents Act does not propose eliminating or restructuring the Match itself but would subject it to standard antitrust laws and allow legal recourse against potential anti-competitive practices.
Lee has championed constitutional principles and individual liberty as a U.S. senator, according to the official website. He serves as Utah’s senator and promotes limited government and free markets according to his official biography. His background includes clerking for Supreme Court Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr., earning degrees from Brigham Young University, and growing up in Provo as a fourth-generation Utahn according to his official website.
Observers will watch whether Congress moves forward with this legislative effort amid ongoing discussions about physician shortages and workforce bottlenecks.
