The AAMC April 10, along with 66 supporting organizations, sent a letter to members of Congress in support of the Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act of 2019 (S. 348/ H.R. 1763). The letter reflects a diverse number of stakeholders, including physician, hospital, and specialty organizations.
The letter urges lawmakers to cosponsor the legislation, and stresses “the need to expand Medicare’s support for physician training to ensure all Americans have access to the care they deserve.”
It goes on to mention the forthcoming physician shortage and that “if we do not address this impending problem, patients from pediatrics to geriatrics will find it difficult to access the care they need.” The letter also emphasizes that the shortage is exacerbated by the nation’s aging population and physician retirement. As more people age, their need for a physician increases “and the U.S. population aged 65 and older is predicted to grow 50% by 2030.”
The letter closes by stating that the groups “look forward to working together to support the training of future physicians and to secure the passage of this important legislation.”
The Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act of 2019 was introduced in the Senate February 6 [see Washington Highlights, Feb. 8] and in the House March 14 [see Washington Highlights, March 15]. The bipartisan legislation would increase the number of Medicare-supported graduate medical education (GME) slots by 3,000 per year for five years, for a total of 15,000 new slots.