U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz, has introduced legislation aimed at improving access to general surgeons in Hawaii and other underserved areas across the country.

According to the senator’s office, the Ensuring Access to General Surgery Act would direct the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to study access to general surgeons among underserved populations and identify areas facing shortages. Hawaii’s ongoing physician shortage has created challenges for residents, particularly those living in rural and remote communities.

“We have a doctor shortage crisis in Hawaii, and it’s having a real impact on families living in hard-to-reach areas across the state,” Schatz said in a news release. “Our bill will help us better understand where the shortages exist so that we can work to bring more doctors and surgeons to the communities that need them most.”

The bill is co-sponsored by Sens. John Barrasso, R-Wyo.; Maria Cantwell, D-Wash.; Roger Marshall, R-Kan.; and Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn.

Supporters said better data on surgical shortages could help policymakers develop strategies to recruit and retain surgeons in communities with limited access to care.