5/21 News Roundup & Open Thread
Sanders says US physician shortage is a ‘solvable problem
Senators on both sides of the aisle agreed at a hearing Thursday that Congress should work to address the nation’s physician shortages, especially in primary health care, including through changes to training programs.
At a Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Primary Health and Retirement Security Subcommittee hearing, Chair Bernie Sanders said the federal government could help boost the number of practicing physicians in the United States. The government spends about $16 billion every year to fund thousands of medical residency programs.
Sanders, a Vermont independent, suggested Congress expand these programs as well as programs to get doctors into medically underserved areas. He said he plans to soon introduce legislation to authorize 14,000 new Medicare-supported residency programs over seven years. It would also establish new criteria about how the residency slots would be allocated, so half of these doctors would go into primary care.
“We don’t necessarily need more dermatologists on Park Avenue in New York City,” Sanders told the panel.
The Association of American Medical Colleges recently predicted a shortage of up to 139,000 physicians by 2033, including a shortage of 55,200 primary care physicians alone. The pandemic exacerbated these issues in some specialties, including mental health and nursing home care.
Primary care doctors are paid less than specialists on average throughout their careers, and medical residencies in rural and underserved areas struggle to attract as many trainees as those in big cities. This creates doctor shortages in places that need care most.
Witnesses who work in the medical field said Thursday that the nation’s care system structure leads to lower pay for primary care doctors because primary care physicians don’t profit off expensive procedures, such as surgeries.
The system “is flawed and incentivizes the wrong thing,” University of New England President James Herbert told the subcommittee.
David Skorton, president and chief executive officer of the Association of American Medical Colleges, told Sen. Mike Braun, R-Ind., that there’s an increased interest in going to medical school across the country, but there are some disincentives and the potential for burnout.
Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine., said low Medicaid reimbursement rates in nursing homes translate into low wages and discourage many qualified health care workers from staying in the field. Collins and Sen. Maggie Hassan, D-N.H., recently introduced legislation to create 1,000 Medicare-supported medical residency positions focused on addiction at teaching hospitals.
Collins, Sanders and other senators suggested Congress could also give incentives such as medical education debt forgiveness to get medical residents into rural areas across the country.
Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., said the pandemic has led to a severe shortage of mental health professionals. Before COVID-19, about 77 percent of counties had a mental health workforce shortage, and he said it’s gotten even worse since.
Herbert told the subcommittee that it is important to train all health care providers, including dentists and OB-GYNs, to recognize behavioral health issues, including addiction.
Sanders said he felt encouraged his panel reached a general understanding of these issues and got a handle on how to solve them. He said the subcommittee would continue to examine and try to address health care workforce shortages.
“This is a solvable problem. This is the wealthiest country on Earth. Yes, we can have enough doctors,” Sanders said. “I think we can do this.”
(image credit: Roll Call)
More news, tweets, perspectives in the comments. TGIF!
Fire away…
T and R, Ms. Benny!! 🙂
Just think, 6 years ago, Bernie was a back bencher and hardly anyone paid attention to his ideas or rhetoric. As the picture in the OP indicates, Bernie has plenty of media company these days.
def time for a replay.ty.
I figured the cease fire would not last. Israel just can’t resist preying on the vulnerable.
A decision needs to come soon on Netanyaboob’s guilt. Is or isn’t he going to be kicked out of office cos he’s been convicted of white collar crimes?
I think they might be pissed off that intl media does not appear to be nearly as sympathetic to their actions this time.
I suppose getting rid of Trump has a price tag attached.
Well I guess the US govt could refuse to pay
Seems to me there should be bids for how much housing will cost, or an amended provision that the POTUS has to foot the bill over a certain amount.
While Gaza does need aid, it’s disappointing that we don’t take the $ of the foreign aid we send to Israel, especially since they have not respected the cease fire agreement.
We need to rebuild at home.
This reminds me of the new policies going through red states, where people can get arrested for protesting.
Same mindset, different countries. 🙁
Fascism everywhere is the common goal.
Stuff like this nonsense, claiming:
when it appears that nothing of the sort was happening is even turning mr. mags, someone who never used to pay attention to Israel/Gaza, into someone turning up the volume when these stories are on tv saying, “just awful!”.
IDF is trying to repress even Friday prayers and any support for Gaza. It will not turn out well for them in the long run. People are waking up and seeing the lies.
https://www.cnn.com/2021/05/21/middleeast/israel-palestinian-conflict-friday-intl/index.html
i read that there’s metal in the rubber bullets, too.
Alabama likes to remind their students & parents that they are still a white ruling state.
amanda found little 4 yr old gavin (whom i’ll see soon) outside in the evening with her brand new yoga mat.
told mom he wanted to “knock out some yoga.” made me laugh.
That’s priceless! wow, it’s a new time.
Thanks for sharing! 😍
cops gotta bully and sounds like yang is there for them.
Hopefully she’ll get a job somewhere else.
propaganda is subtle, most often.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/may/21/israel-gaza-conflict-biden-palestine?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other
About time and much welcomed by me! I’m still a bit afraid to hope, but it does seem like this time was different. People not buying the lies so much.
Another City is Possible
8 min video
woo hoo!
hope they’re including alcohol in that addiction training. the medical and dental professions have long blocked anything that might lower their pay or their status.
having lots of doctors and seeing them as regular people would do both. and we desperately need them. i remember posting something from a doctor in England, who lived in a nice neighborhood and drove a nice car, but didn’t feel “above” and was paid well, but not outlandishly, and was very happy. he was a real doctor who loved making people well.
what a fulfilling career if you like helping people… all the complexities of living a full life, especially for a gp–several generations of the same family, so deaths and new life and all that entails.
da do ron ron :o)
I was encouraged by the PA elections about senate and House, but after this, I think Biden will lose the House. Pelosi is too effin’ hung up on pleasing her corporate donors, knowing she won’t lose her own seat. Add no $15 raise which won’t be in this bill either.
not sure how much they care about keeping anything, past a point of performance. as you say, donors.
I think Pelosi is more comfortable railing against the opposition than pushing forward when Dems have a bit of clout. Maybe that helps her raise more $?
p.s. what a surprise that the items most dear to our hearts, health care, student debt relief, prescription drug reform, are the items left on the cutting floor. (not)
Article is from 2017, but it articulates what I’ve felt for many years now, probably dating back to the Obama years. Scoring debate points by focusing on how awful Republicans are is a bit pointless when they and their voters wear their shittiness publicly, as a badge of honor. And yet the MSNBC flock continue on this pointless errand as a part of their bizarre tribalism.