Statement attributable to:

Robert M. Wah, MD

President, American Medical Association

“The American Medical Association has long-advocated for increasing the number of medical residency slots to train physicians in needed specialties and regions to improve access to health care. The AMA applauds members of Congress for introducing new legislation that would expand funding for graduate medical education (GME) and improve access to health care for patients in underserved areas.

“We believe that the CARE Act would be a significant step toward ensuring patient access to care through its creative solutions to fund new medical residency positions. We look forward to working with Representatives Castor and Heck to urge support for this important bill that would help address physician shortages in undersupplied specialties and underserved areas.

“Over the last year, the AMA has adopted numerous policies calling for the modernization of graduate medical education, including increased funding for medical residency slots, development of innovative practice models and residency positions that reflect societal needs. The AMA’s Accelerating Change in Medical Education initiative also is addressing some of these issues through projects aimed at defining the optimal learning environment along the continuum of medical education and training medical students in new ways to ensure physicians are prepared to practice in the evolving health care landscape.”