According to the report, 17 states lack at least one physician in at least one of 13 pediatric sub-specialties, including developmental pediatrics, gastroenterology and rheumatology. Training in these specialties require up to three years of additional education beyond general pediatrics, which can lead to increased student bills.
Another deterrent is that pediatric sub-specialists are paid at rates lower than their adult counterparts, with Medicaid paying up to 30 percent below the adult rate, according to the report. This also results in a lack of physicians-in-training for these sub-specialties.
Nachri surveyed 44 hospitals that employed pediatrics sub-specialists and found that many positions remained open, resulting in delayed care for ill children for months and increased travel costs to see the nearest specialist, according to the report.
Nachri is lobbying for the House and the Senate to include provisions, such as student loan forgiveness and one that would require Medicaid to pay Medicare rates for office visits, to help encourage physicians to enter pediatric sub-specialties. Additionally, Nachri is asking Congress to provide $330 million in funding for pediatric training for fiscal year 2011, up from $317.5 million in fiscal year 2010, according to the report.
Read the WSJ’s report on the pediatric specialist shortage.
