The physician shortage is limiting access to care for millions of Americans and requires swift action before the shortage grows even more, the American Medical Association reported Nov. 6.
AMA president Jesse Ehrenfeld, MD, outlined key legislative steps to be taken to begin addressing the complex physician shortage problem during an address to the National Press Club.
Here are three bipartisan bills Dr. Ehrenfeld discussed in the address:
- The Strengthening Medicare for Patients and Providers Act aims to annually update physician payment to account for the practice cost inflations reflected in the Medicare Economic Index.
- The Improving Seniors' Timely Access to Care Act looks to expand prior authorization reforms that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services finalized.
- The Conrad State 30 and the Physician Access Reauthorization Act would reauthorize the Conrad 30 waiver policy for an additional three years, allowing resident physicians working in the U.S. on J-1 visas to remain in the U.S.