[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 103 (Friday, July 10, 2009)]
[House]
[Page H7950]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 PRESCRIPTION OF THE DAY: ENSURING A STRONG FUTURE PHYSICIAN WORKFORCE

  (Mr. BURGESS asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, ``Are we running out of doctors'' was a 
question posed by the Texas Medical Association last year. The United 
States population continues to grow and there is concern that there may 
not be enough physicians to care for Americans.
  If we do nothing to assist the training of new physicians, waiting 
lines will grow longer, lapses in treatment will occur, and many of our 
smaller and rural communities will be at risk of not having physicians.
  What is the prescription? Helping doctors as they enter training in 
medical school and continuing assistance throughout their residency in 
high-need specialties and medically-underserved areas to make certain 
that when you need help, your doctor is in.
  Two bills, H.R. 914 and H.R. 916, bipartisan bills to help offer 
incentives for physicians to practice in rural and underserved areas of 
the country, will help to ensure that health care coverage actually 
equals access to a doctor for all Americans.
  All of the recent discussion on health care reform has been on cost 
and coverage, but it matters not if there are not enough doctors for 
America's patients. Ensuring that our Nation has a strong physician 
workforce is critical and must be part of this national health care 
debate.
  For more information, please visit my Website, healthcaucus.org.

                          ____________________