Katko bill would boost number of physicians nationwide

In an effort to reduce doctor shortages in his home district in Central New York and across the nation, U.S. Rep. John Katko (R-NY) reintroduced bipartisan legislation to phase in 14,000 new Medicare-supported residency positions.

“For years, our community and nation has grappled with a dire and growing shortage of trained physicians,” said Rep. Katko in an April 5 statement. “The ongoing pandemic has put this issue in the spotlight and underscored the importance of allowing our teaching hospitals and academic medical centers to train more healthcare professionals.”

The demand for physicians and other medical professionals is expected to increase as the American population ages, and the need for doctors has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Furthermore, in recent decades an artificial cap on the number of residents funded by Medicare, the primary source of payment for residents, has limited the number of physician trainees, Rep. Katko’s office explained. In fact, the United States will face a physician shortage of between 42,600 and 121,300 physicians by 2030, according to the Association of American Medical Colleges.

To help with the problem, Rep. Katko on March 26 introduced the Resident Physician Shortage Act of 2021, H.R. 2256, with bill sponsor U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell (D-AL) and fellow cosponsors U.S. Reps. Rodney Davis (R-IL) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA). 

If enacted, the measure would support an additional 2,000 positions each year from 2023 to 2029, totaling 14,000 new residency positions. The bill would help hospitals recruit and retain medical residents by supporting more residency spots in Medicare’s Graduate Medical Education program. 

“As a result, we will train more physicians, ensure our hospitals have the resources and staff they need and provide our communities with better access to care,” the congressman said.