Congresswoman Nydia M. Velazquez (D-NY), Chairwoman of the House Committee on Small Business, reports in a press release on her website that physician's groups are concerned over the growing shortage of primary care and other categories of physicians. These groups recently testified in a hearing before the committee. Congressional efforts to reform the health care system could be hindered by the shortage, the groups' witnesses suggest, and insuring millions of Americans and the growing elderly population might overwhelm the country's health care system.

"Health care coverage does not guarantee access to care," said Rep. Velazquez in the release. "If health care reform does not tackle the physician workforce shortage issue, Americans may have trouble getting medical treatment, even though they are insured."

Velazquez reports that one factor contributing to the shortage is the burden of large school loans leading to high-income specialties. While fewer new physicians are choosing primary care, the demand is rising. "Simple economics are driving this phenomenon and, until that changes, the gap between the number of doctors we need and the number we have will grow," Velazquez said.

Velazquez mentions the steps taken to address the physician shortage, including the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) appropriating $2.5 billion for community health centers, and also providing educational debt relief to encourage new doctors and health professionals into the field, particularly for underserved and rural areas.

However, Velazquez feels more incentives are needed to reverse the doctor shortage. "These small medical practices are critical to the care of millions and we need to ensure they remain a strong part of our health system's foundation," Velazquez commented. "While the Recovery Act took some positive initial steps toward remedying this problem, we'll have to continue working to address the shortage through measures like the health care reform bill."

The witnesses were representatives from organizations including the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, Congress of Neurological Surgeons, American Academy of Family Physicians, American College of Surgeons and the American Osteopathic Association. Velazquez says that these witnesses informed the Committee that health reform policy should include means to increase the number of medical professionals, with incentives such as providing help with medical students' tuition, and to have residency training geared toward general medicine, to make the field attractive to new doctors.

Adapted from a press release from Rep. Nydia Velazquez.

More Industry Headlines