Sens. Jack Reed (D-R.I.) and John Kyl (R-Ariz.) are co-sponsors of the Graduate Medical Education Reform Act of 2012.
“This is a thoughtful approach to transparency and accountability, which, when combined with an increase in the number of Medicare-supported residency positions, could be part of a comprehensive strategy to address the access crisis facing this country,” said Darrell G. Kirch, MD, the president and CEO of the AAMC, which supported the bill in an open letter.
The AAMC estimates the United States will have a dearth of 91,500 physicians by 2020, which will balloon to a 130,000-physician shortage by 2025.
Supporters of the bipartisan bill argue that reducing federal funding for graduate medical education would add to the growing physician shortage numbers.
AAMC is also advocating for legislation to increase the number of Medicare-funded residency slots.“The government has a strong interest in doing more to encourage the training of physicians who can delivery quality care to our nation’s seniors,” Sen. Kyl said.
More Articles on Healthcare Legislation:
Healthcare Cost Reduction Bill Passes Massachusetts Senate
3 Hospital Leaders Discuss Unintended Consequences of the Affordable Care Act
House Passes Bill to Cut Medicaid, Part of PPACA
At Becker's 4th Annual CEO + CFO Roundtable, taking place November 2–5 in Chicago, more than 1,500 hospital and health system executives tackle decisions that determine whether organizations thrive or merely survive: protecting margins under cost pressure, choosing where to grow, renegotiating payer relationships, stabilizing the workforce and proving real ROI on technology. This is where leaders work through them together, face-to-face. Apply for complimentary registration now.
