AAMC Applauds Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act of 2011
Washington, D.C., September 23, 2011— AAMC (Association of American Medical Colleges) President and CEO Darrell G. Kirch, M.D., issued the following statement on the "Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act of 2011 " introduced today by Sens. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.), Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), and Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), which would increase the number of Medicare-supported training positions for medical residents by 15 percent (approximately 15,000 slots) over five years:
"As the nation faces a critical doctor shortage, we support this proposal and applaud the leadership of these senators to expand the number of residency positions. Such efforts are important to the future of health care in this country.
The bill couldn't come at a more opportune time. Medicare resident caps, in place since 1997, have restricted the ability of teaching hospitals and medical schools to increase the nation's physician workforce and meet the needs of local communities. Now, some in Washington are proposing further cuts to doctor training as part of deficit reduction. At the same time, an additional 32 million Americans will be entering the health care system as a result of the Affordable Care Act, while the population is aging and requires more medical care. Doctors are getting older, too, with one in three likely to retire in the next two decades. This convergence of factors will create an unprecedented demand for doctors. Estimates show that the nation faces a shortage of more than 90,000 doctors in the next 10 years. Allowing doctor shortages to continue and even grow will have dire consequences for access to health care for seniors and other patients.
As a champion of legislation to increase education and training of physicians, the AAMC plans to work with its member medical schools and teaching hospitals to secure passage of the measure. The decisions we make today about doctor training have long-range implications. This thoughtful bill is an important step toward ensuring that the nation can continue to provide access to quality care for all Americans."
