Joint Statement: Schock, Schwartz Introduce Legislation to Address Physician Shortage

Statement

Today, Congressman Aaron Schock (R-IL) and Congresswoman Allyson Schwartz (D-PA) introduced legislation to address the physician shortage facing the United States. The Training Tomorrow's Doctors Today Act will ensure there will be an adequate physician workforce prepared to meet the health needs of the American population. The Schock-Schwartz legislation creates 15,000 new Graduate Medical Education (GME) slots around the country over five years. The Association of American Medical Colleges estimates that in 2015, the country will have 62,900 fewer doctors than needed and that could number rise to as many as 130,000 by 2025.

"In the U.S. we are facing a significant physician shortage that will only increase in severity unless action is taken soon. Every eight seconds another Baby Boomer turns 65 so it's incumbent upon us to ensure we have a prepared physician workforce in place to meet the growing health care demands on our country," said Congressman Aaron Schock. "The primary way our country can address the physician shortage is by ensuring we increase the number of Graduate Medical Education slots. By doing so, we are increasing the number of medical school graduates who will receive hands on training in a patient setting to gain the experience needed to become a practicing physician."

"The United States is on the cusp of a crisis in access to both specialty and primary care physicians. We have an urgent need to take action to ensure Americans have access to quality, well trained doctors," said Congresswoman Allyson Schwartz. "While there will be more than 74 million American seniors in need of health care services within 20 years, experts estimate that 130,000 new physicians will be necessary to eliminate the workforce shortage by 2025. This bipartisan legislation is critical. "

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