Hoodline: Congresswoman Susie Lee Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Combat Doctor Shortage in Southern Nevada
In response to the dire physician shortage Southern Nevada faces, Congresswoman Susie Lee has proposed a bipartisan bill designed to boost the number of doctors in the region. Referred to as the Physicians for Underserved Areas Act, this piece of legislation looks to amend the Graduate Medical Education process, favoring areas like Nevada that suffer from a severe lack of medical professionals. According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, this initiative could tip the scales for medical residency slots, particularly when hospitals close, to be reallocated to regions confronting such scarcities.
During an event at the University Medical Center, Congresswoman Lee, accompanied by healthcare industry figures, underscored the problem; Nevada's 17 counties are all considered health professional shortage areas the state is 45th in the nation for physician-to-resident ratio that number is just 218 per 100,000 people. As reported by News 3 Las Vegas, Lee pushed for bipartisan cooperation and pinpointed Medicaid cuts as a significant threat that impacts more than just its direct recipients—with more than 811,000 Nevadans currently enrolled in the program.
The bill has been introduced with support from Ohio Republican Rep. Troy Balderson and received an endorsement in the Senate from Sen. Jacky Rosen. Lee previously introduced a similar bill in 2022, which failed to advance from the Committee on Ways and Means and the Committee on Energy and Commerce. The congresswoman emphasized the significance of retaining medical students within the state; currently, for each 10 Nevada-educated medical students, there are only seven available GME slots, potentially forcing three to pursue residencies, and likely careers, out-of-state, thus perpetuating the shortage.
Furthermore, Lee has reached out to Governor Joe Lombardo, requesting his endorsement for the proposed legislation Lee pointed out that, after endorsing her earlier Accelerating Appraisals and Conservation Efforts (AACE) Act, there is a precedence for bipartisan collaboration—Governor's office received Lee’s letter and is reviewing the legislation, and they have indicated they will also be introducing healthcare legislation addressing graduate medical education in the near future, this bill could present a crucial step towards addressing Nevada's severe provider shortages. Lee expressed in a Las Vegas Review-Journal interview that she is hopeful about bringing more doctors to areas where they are most desperately needed in Nevada.