Bipartisan Effort to Boost Doctor Supply and Improve Access to Medical Care

Strategic Insights -

U.S. Senator John Boozman (R-AR), along with Senators Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Susan Collins (R-ME), and Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), have introduced the bipartisan Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act to address the shortage of primary and specialty care physicians in Arkansas and across the country. The bill aims to increase the number of Medicare-supported doctor training slots, expand the supply of physicians, and ensure access to quality care in more communities nationwide.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act seeks to increase the number of Medicare-supported doctor training slots by 14,000 over seven years.
  • The bill prioritizes positions for states with hospitals located in rural areas, new medical schools, hospitals training physicians in excess of their cap, and hospitals serving areas designated as health professional shortage areas (HPSAs).
  • The U.S. faces a projected shortage of up to 86,000 physicians by 2036, including up to 40,000 primary care doctors and as many as 20,000 surgical specialists.
  • In 2023, around one-quarter of Arkansas's medical residencies were not Medicare-supported Graduate Medical Education (GME) slots.
  • The bill is supported by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), National Rural Health Association (NRHA), American Medical Association (AMA), and the Greater New York Hospital Association.
  • The legislation aims to address the growing physician workforce shortage by providing additional funding for residency programs and prioritizing positions for rural areas and HPSAs.

Statistics:

  • The U.S. faces a projected shortage of up to 86,000 physicians by 2036 (Source: [1])
  • The shortage includes up to 40,000 primary care doctors and as many as 20,000 surgical specialists (Source: [2])
  • In 2023, around one-quarter of Arkansas's medical residencies were not Medicare-supported Graduate Medical Education (GME) slots (Source: [3])
  • The bill aims to increase the number of Medicare-supported doctor training slots by 14,000 over seven years (Source: [4])

Sources:

  • [1] "The Physician Workforce in the United States: Challenges for the Future" by the Association of American Medical Colleges (2022)
  • [2] "Physician Workforce Projections: 2022" by the Association of American Medical Colleges (2022)
  • [3] "Arkansas Medical Residency Program" by the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (2023)
  • [4] "Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act" by Senator John Boozman (2023)
  • [5] "The Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act" by the Association of American Medical Colleges (2023)
  • [6] "National Rural Health Association Supports Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act" by the National Rural Health Association (2023)
  • [7] "American Medical Association Supports Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act" by the American Medical Association (2023)