KUAR | By Ronak Patel
U.S Sen. John Boozman, R-Arkansas, is supporting the Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act, which aims to increase the amount of residency programs available for medical students.
Currently, there is a cap on the amount of residency program positions that Medicare can fund and this bill would raise that cap. Boozman said the cap needs to be raised because it limits the number of physicians in Arkansas.
“As you graduate from medical school, you need to find a spot in a residency program. Sadly there’s not enough of those,” Boozman said in an interview. “As a result, you might have individuals who simply get through medical school and can’t find a residency and have to wait until one opens. All the while, we’ve got a huge shortage in medical providers.”
Michael Hibblen/KUAR News
U.S Senator John Boozman, R-Arkansas, is working with Republicans and Democrats on a bill they believe will help address the shortage of physicians. The bill has the support of Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-New York.