Are the GME provisions adequate for addressing physician shortages?
The AMA believes that H.R. 3200’s proposal to fill vacant GME resident slots alone, will not be enough to address the predicted physician shortages. A peer-reviewed study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) in 2008 projects an additional 21,000 residency positions will be needed within the next decade to ensure that we have a fully trained physician workforce available to serve the needs of patients. The AMA recommends the following additional GME actions to ensure an adequate physician workforce: (1) maintain adequate and stable Medicare and Medicaid GME funding levels; (2) investigate additional sources of GME funding (e.g., private payers); (3) authorize new funding to increase Medicare supported GME positions in primary care, general surgery, and other undersupplied specialties, as well as in underserved areas; and (4) bring together a variety of health care experts (including practicing and teaching physicians and other health professionals) to asse
