government
Schwartz, Dr. Roe form House GME caucus
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted May 28, 2012
House lawmakers have re-launched the Congressional Academic Medicine Caucus to promote medical education and training issues on Capitol Hill.
The caucus will work with graduate medical education institutions and physicians on challenges in academic medicine, said caucus co-chairs Reps. Allyson Schwartz (D, Pa.) and Phil Roe, MD (R, Tenn.). It will aim to explore policies that ensure there is an adequate supply of doctors to meet the nation’s health care needs.
The caucus would support legislation to accomplish these goals. For instance, a proposal that has been introduced in the Senate would expand the number of Medicare-supported residency positions by 15,000. Similar types of legislation would be introduced and supported in the House by the caucus.
“With the nation facing a mounting physician shortage crisis — for both specialist and primary care physicians — lawmakers should work together and find a solution for the growing work force shortage,” said Assn. of American Medical Colleges President and CEO Darrell G. Kirch, MD. “We look forward to working with Reps. Schwartz and Roe, as well as other members of this important caucus.”
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2012/05/28/gvbf0528.htm.
