Government
FPs seek more training funds
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted Jan. 12, 2009
The American Academy of Family Physicians on Dec. 24, 2008, called on Congress and President-elect Barack Obama to invest $215 million in economic stimulus spending on grants for medical training programs.
If the advice is followed, the money would go toward section 747 of Title VII, part of the Public Health Services Act. The AAFP also called for $115 million for the National Health Service Corps, which provides scholarships and loan repayments to health professionals who work in medically underserved areas.
"The high debt burden many medical graduates face may influence career choices, deterring some from practicing in underserved areas, starting a career in medical education or research, or entering primary care medicine," said Jim King, MD, chair of the academy's board.
Federal funding for Section 747 of Title VII has decreased from $92.4 million in fiscal 2003 to $48 million in 2008, the AAFP said.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/01/12/gvbf0112.htm.