Friday, March 29, 2024

Rep. Schrier introduces bipartisan bill to improve rural health care access

Posted

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Representative Kim Schrier, M.D. (WA-08) recently introduced the Rural Physician Workforce Production Act. This bipartisan bill aims to improve access to health care for rural Americans by increasing the number of physicians in their area. 

Specifically, this bill provides additional funding to hospitals to incentivize medical residents to train and practice in rural areas. The funding comes through Medicare and addresses some of the financial challenges that often prevent physicians from practicing in rural communities. 

“As a doctor, I understand the importance of being able to access timely care. In many parts of the 8th District, residents need to drive a long distance to visit their doctor,” said Rep. Schrier, M.D. “That’s why I am glad to be introducing this commonsense, bipartisan legislation to increase the number of health care providers in rural areas and alleviate physician shortages. This is an important step to increasing health care access for all 8th District residents.” 

The 8th District is nearly 10,000 square miles, with many residents living in rural areas, often a significant distance away from the nearest physician. This is a common challenge for rural Americans. Lack of access to proper health care has dire consequences. The Rural Physician Workforce Production Act works towards fixing this problem.

“Rural areas suffer disproportionately from physician shortages,” said Dr. Keri Bergeson, M.D., who is the site training director for the family medicine residency rural program at Columbia Valley Community Health. “The data is clear that physicians tend to live and work near where they train. In order to improve physician access for rural areas, we need to train physicians in rural areas. This bill would allow fair and equitable funding for rural sites to do just that.”

This bill is supported by a coalition of medical organizations including the American Academy of Family Physicians, American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians, the National Rural Health Association, and many more. Additionally, Congresswoman Schrier is joined in introducing the bill by fellow U.S. Representatives Harshbarger (R-TN), Cuellar (D-TX), and Bacon (R-NE).

“The shortage of primary care physicians across the country, particularly in rural areas, must be addressed. That’s why the AAFP is pleased to endorse the Rural Physician Workforce Production Act, which will take concrete action to support rural residency training and alleviate physician shortages in rural communities. This legislation addresses health inequities by strengthening the physician workforce in communities that desperately need more physicians and would provide much needed federal support to incentivize residents to train in rural areas. This bill is a critical step toward stemming our national physician workforce shortage and ensuring patients have equitable access to timely and comprehensive care,” Tochi Iroku-Malize, MD, MPH, MBA, FAAFP, President, American Academy of Family Physicians.

"Many osteopathic family physicians serve as the sole access point for critical health care services in the rural communities they serve, and they witness firsthand the challenges that rural Americans face in obtaining primary care services. We are grateful that Representatives Harshbarger and Schrier are leading the effort to increase access to primary care services in rural areas by introducing the Rural Physician Workforce Production Act of 2023 in the House. This legislation is essential in resolving the geographic maldistribution of primary care physicians by providing equitable access to care for patients in all areas of the country,” Bruce R. Williams, DO, FACOFP, President, American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians.

Comments

No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here