[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 9]
[House]
[Pages 12736-12737]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                          PHYSICIAN SHORTAGES

  (Mr. HARDY asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. HARDY. Mr. Speaker, a recent study in the American Medical 
Association found that, in the next 10 years, we could be facing a 
shortage of over 100,000 physicians. To help combat this

[[Page 12737]]

extreme doctor shortage, I have introduced the GO MED Act.
  My bill would implement a program to reallocate unused medical 
residency slots paid for by Medicare on a rolling basis to States 
feeling the worst effects of the physician shortage. It is widely 
accepted that where medical residents learn, they stay and practice.
  But in 2014, Medicare only paid for 137 residency slots in my State; 
whereas, the top 25 States average over 3,000 positions. That is 
because of an outdated system. We don't have opportunities for students 
to stay in Nevada.
  Nevada isn't the only State getting shortchanged. The top five States 
receiving funds through this program account for nearly half of what is 
spent annually.
  If we are serious about addressing access to care, my bill is a step 
in the right direction.

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