Casey Co-Sponsored Bill Would Provide Critical Support for Area Hospitals and Medical Schools to Help Alleviate Doctor Shortage / VA Audit Identifies Doctor Shortage? as Top Challenge in Addressing Waitlist / Shortage of 90,000 Doctors Projected by 2020, American Medical Association Meeting this Week to Address the Growing Crisis
Philadelphia, PA – In the wake of VA hospital investigations, Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) pushed for passage of legislation that will help to alleviate the acute doctor shortage across the nation that is growing exponentially as baby boomers age. The initial investigation into the waitlist at the Phoenix VA as well as the VA audit indicated a doctor shortage will be one of the primary challenges in addressing the problem. The Casey co-sponsored bill would increase residency slots at Pennsylvania hospitals and prioritize primary care training.
“We will have a projected shortage of 90,000 doctors by the end of this decade,” said Senator Casey. “That shortage will dramatically impact all Pennsylvanians including our seniors, our families and our veterans. This is a commonsense measure that would ensure more trained doctors to help meet growing needs not only within the VA system but in hospitals across the state and the country. “
The Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act would remove the current cap on Medicare residency positions and provide for an increase of 15,000 slots by 2019. It would also require the National Health Care Workforce Commission to submit a report to Congress by January 1, 2016 identifying physician shortage specialties and the Government Accountability Office to report on strategies for increasing health professional workforce diversity.
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