Bills aiming to alleviate physician shortages

Millions of dollars would go toward scholarships, loan forgiveness and tax incentives for doctors entering targeted specialties.

By Dave Hansen, AMNews staff. July 9, 2007.

Washington -- The federal government would spend millions enticing newly minted doctors to practice in underserved areas or specialties, under legislation recently introduced by Rep. Michael Burgess, MD (R, Texas), one of a handful of physicians in Congress.

Factors such as low pay, long training and high medical liability costs drive many new doctors from underserved areas or specialties, Dr. Burgess warned in a June 12 congressional speech. "Young people ... who want to consider a career in health care are looking at the crisis we face in medical liability in this country, and it's keeping them out of the game," he said. Rural and inner-city hospitals cannot afford the $100,000 cost to train a resident, he added.

So Dr. Burgess, who practiced obstetrics-gynecology, introduced the Physician Workforce and Graduate Medical Education Enhancement Act of 2007. The bill would set aside $25 million to make interest-free loans to rural or urban hospitals for starting a residency program. The program would have to be in family, internal or emergency medicine; pediatrics; obstetrics-gynecology; or general surgery.

Dr. Burgess also introduced the High Need Physician Specialty Workforce Incentive Act of 2007. The bill would establish scholarships, loan forgiveness plans and tax incentives for doctors entering the same targeted specialties. Scholarships could be up to $30,000 and would be exempt from taxes. The federal government would forgive up to $35,000 in debt for each year of service.