Commission Could Resolve Health Care Workforce Woes

By TRNS/UNM Staff

“By 2020 there will be a shortage of up to 200,000 physicians and 1 million nurses” in the U.S., according a new report put out by the Center for American Progress. Advocates for the inclusion of a National Health Care Workforce Commission in the Congressional health care reform bill say that rural Americans are vulnerable to health care workforce shortages.

“Some expect the shortage to worsen as 78 million baby boomers begin to hit retirement in 2011,” according to the “Closing the Health Care Workforce Gap Report”. The 35-page document was submitted to members of Congress last month.

The Commission could affect thousands of New Mexicans by increasing the number of scholarships given to medical students, which will strengthen a deteriorating health care workforce nationwide.

“This is not a one-shot deal,” said commission supporter U.S. Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-NM). “We need an independent organization, a broad, well informed, independent organization that can make recommendations on an annual basis going forward.”

New Mexico has a high number of rural and minority communities. In 2008, there was a 350 to 1 ratio of patients to physicians in New Mexico, according to statehealthfacts.org.

“Data suggests that medical school applicants from underrepresented minority, rural and middle- or low-income families are more likely to practice in underserved areas from which they came,” according to the report.

Bingaman foresees opposition due to political pressure to reduce the cost of the health care reform bill. “We think it’s crucial that this remain in the final legislation,” he said.

The bill is expected to hit President Barack Obama’s desk before the upcoming State of the Union Address.