[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 119 (Monday, July 28, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1251]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  RESTORING THE DOCTORS OF OUR COUNTRY THROUGH SCHOLARSHIPS VETERANS 
                          AFFAIRS ACT OF 2014

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                           HON. JIM McDERMOTT

                             of washington

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, July 28, 2014

  Mr. McDERMOTT. Mr. Speaker, today I am introducing legislation that 
will address the shortage of physicians at medical facilities of the 
Department of Veterans Affairs. As we have learned from recent events, 
long wait times at VA facilities are, in part, a consequence of 
understaffing and a doctor shortage. The lack of primary care 
physicians in VA facilities is particularly troubling. Recently, the VA 
estimated that it had about 400 unfilled vacancies for primary care 
doctors.
   Through the Health Professionals Educational Assistance Program, the 
VA currently provides for loan repayment and scholarships that fund the 
education and training of a range of health providers. Unfortunately, 
Educational Assistance Program benefits are limited and, as currently 
designed, the program does little to encourage primary care physicians 
to work at the VA. Furthermore, recent proposals to reform the VA do 
not go far enough to emphasize training VA doctors who are committed to 
the practice of primary care medicine.
   That is why I am introducing the RDOCS-VA Act, legislation that will 
strengthen the Educational Assistance Program. Modeled after the 
successful ROTC program, RDOCS-VA will provide scholarships and 
stipends covering the full cost of attending medical school, in 
exchange for a five-year commitment to service as primary care doctors 
at the VA. RDOCS-VA is designed to directly address the VA's needs by 
requiring the creation of a minimum of 400 RDOCS-VA scholarships, with 
flexibility to award even more scholarships in the future.
   Once fully implemented, the RDOCS-VA program will be an important 
tool to ensure that our veterans have access to primary care. As part 
of future efforts, Congress must build upon this program by expanding 
graduate medical education and creating additional residency slots at 
VA facilities. This will allow us to train primary care doctors who are 
fully prepared to serve our veterans for years to come.

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