Reps. Susie Lee, Katie Porter Urge Support for Greater Investment in Graduate Medical Education

Washington, D.C.—U.S. Reps. Susie Lee (Nev.-03) and Katie Porter (Calif.-45) sent a letter, dated Sept. 26, to House Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Nita Lowey (N.Y.-17), Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Richard Shelby (Ala.), House Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Kay Granger (Texas-12), and Senate Appropriations Committee Vice Chairman Patrick Leahy (Vt.) requesting support for increased investment in Graduate Medical Education (GME) programs in the final Fiscal Year 2020 budget.

Find the text of the letter here and below:

Dear Chairwoman Lowey, Ranking Member Granger, Chairman Shelby, and Ranking Member Leahy:

As you consider a final appropriations package for Fiscal Year 2020, we respectfully request strong support for graduate medical education programs. During House consideration of the FY2020 Labor, HHS, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, we cosponsored an amendment to increase investments in graduate medical education that passed the House with over 360 Members supporting it.

Our districts are both home to medical schools, which are struggling to place their students in the slots necessary to complete their education. Increasing our investment in graduate medical education positions will increase hospitals' capability to hire more doctors, and ensure all Americans have access to health care. At a time when so many Americans are struggling to access the necessary healthcare services, this investment is more important than ever before.

Doctor shortages are continuing to affect communities across the nation. Despite an increase in medical school enrollment in recent years, there has been no commensurate increase in residency slots to ensure that medical school graduates are able to begin their careers. Unfortunately, there is a doctor shortage across our country. This is not because students are choosing not to pursue a career in medicine, but due to a lack of funding for residencies. By increasing our nationwide investment in opportunities after graduation, we will expand our doctor pipeline. Where these students complete their residencies is where they are most likely to begin their practice, which is why this amendment will help keep residents in currently-underserved communities. This is a particular problem for rural and underserved communities that have historically struggled to attract medical talent.

Thank you for your attention to this matter, and we look forward to working with you to strengthen investments in medical residencies.

Sincerely,

Susie Lee

Katie Porter

BACKGROUND: Rep. Lee has prioritized addressing southern Nevada's doctor shortage, which has reached crisis levels in recent years. In June, the House adopted her amendment to increase funding for Graduate Medical Education positions and programs. The amendment was adopted with broad bipartisan support, with over 130 Republicans voting in favor of the amendment to be included in the FY2020 Appropriations budget.

In June, Rep. Lee also introduced a bipartisan bill, the Rural and Underserved Residencies to Attract Long-Term (RURAL) Physicians Act, which is aimed at attracting medical professionals to underserved communities like southern Nevada in need of a more robust physician workforce. The RURAL Physicians Act would allow student loan borrowers to qualify for interest-free deferment throughout serving in a medical or dental internship or residency if the internship or residency is served in a rural, medically underserved or Department of Veterans' Affairs (VA) medical facility.

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