Skip to main content
Image
bridge in jacksonville

Rep. Rutherford Introduces the Veterans Affairs Physician Recruitment Act

October 31, 2017

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congressman John Rutherford introduced H.R. 4132, the Veterans Affairs Physician Recruitment Act of 2017, which would help VA fill health care provider positions that are in critical shortage. According to a recent Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General report, the VA continues to struggle to adequately recruit, staff, and retain high quality providers. In addition to these shortages, the percentage of retirement eligible VA physicians only continues to rise. As of March 2017, the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) employs 25,268 full and part time physicians, with an average age of 51.5 years old. Eighteen percent of VA physicians are eligible for regular retirement, with that number growing to more than half within the next ten years. H.R. 4132 gives the VA the tools it needs attract and retain physicians now and in the future, improving the quality and access to care for our nation's veterans.

Congressman John Rutherford said, "I have heard from VA leadership, veteran service organizations, and veterans in my district who have asked Congress and the VA to urgently work together to curb the physician shortage at VA. When the VA struggles to fill these positions, veterans experience longer wait times and a decrease in the quality of care. We must equip the VA system with the tools it needs to compete with the private sector and other governmental programs to ensure it is fully staffed with qualified providers. This includes recruiting physicians who are in medical school or those who are recently graduated and assist in their education expenses in exchange for their services within the VA system. My bill is one of the many ways we are working to honor our promise to care for veterans. I thank my colleagues on the Veterans' Affairs Committee for supporting this important piece of legislation for our veterans and look forward to it being considered."

Congressman Neal Dunn said, "Ensuring our veterans have access to the care they need and deserve is one of our top priorities in Congress. Not only does this require streamlining the bureaucracy our veterans face on a daily basis, it also requires making sure our clinics and centers are adequately staffed. This legislation will help ensure our veterans receive the care they have earned, and I commend Congressman Rutherford for his leadership on this issue."

Congressman Mike Coffman said, "The VA has to aggressively address staffing shortages, not only in the Eastern Colorado Health Care System (ECHCS), but nationwide as well. This bill allows the Department of Veterans' Affairs to be competitive in recruiting healthcare providers, especially physicians, which face the largest staffing shortage in the Veterans Health Administration. The ECHCS is the third fastest growing VA Health Care System in the nation, and therefore this bill is critical to helping the VA keep up with the increase in demand. As a Marine Corps combat veteran, I will continue to make sure the VA has the tools necessary to recruit the best healthcare providers who take care of our veterans."

While the VA has several programs to address recruitment, physician shortages remain their most urgent priority. HR 4132 addresses this challenge by establishing a scholarship program to recruit medical students in exchange for service at a VA facility. It also standardizes and increases VA student loan repayment program benefits for new medical school graduates or those currently in residency who will be training in specialties deemed as shortages within the VHA. Participants in this program are obligated to provide clinical services at VA facilities for a minimum of two years.

Rep. Neal Dunn (FL), Rep. Mike Coffman (CO), and Rep. Aumua Amata Coleman Radewagen (AS) are original co-sponsors of the bill and are fellow Members of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee. To read the bill text, click HERE.

###

Issues:Congress