The AAMC, in cooperation with Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.) and Terri Sewell (D-Ala.) hosted an April 9 congressional briefing on Capitol Hill entitled “Investing in GME and the Physician Workforce: A check-up on the CAA, 2021.” The briefing, which boasted over 70 attendees, focused on updating congressional staff on key pieces of the Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA), 2021 (P.L. 116-260) that provided 1,000 new Medicare-supported graduate medical education (GME) positions and enhanced the effectiveness of Rural Training Programs [refer to Washington Highlights, Dec. 23, 2020].
The briefing featured Sewell and expert speakers from the AAMC, including Chief Public Policy Officer Danielle Turnipseed, JD, MHSA, MPP, and Senior Director of Government Relations and Legislative Advocacy Len Marquez, as well as from AAMC-member institutions, including Katherine Henderson, MD, vice president and chief medical officer, Barnes-Jewish Hospital; Paulette Wehner, MD, vice dean for GME, designated institutional official, Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine; and Craig Hoesley, MD, senior associate dean for medical education, University of Alabama at Birmingham Marnix E. Heersink School of Medicine. Speakers focused on the historic expansion of GME, and how the new GME positions and rural flexibilities are already making tangible impacts on the provision of patient care in their communities. Briefing speakers also urged Congress to co-sponsor the Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act of 2023 (H.R. 2389/S. 1302) – AAMC-supported legislation that would provide 14,000 new, Medicare-supported GME positions over seven years [refer to Washington Highlights, March 31, 2023].