ACR Continues to Push for Pediatric Loan Repayment Program for Sub-specialists
January 14, 2010
The ACR is actively engaged in lobbying Congress to create a Pediatric Loan Repayment Program for subspecialists. With a severe workforce shortage in pediatric rheumatology nationwide, a loan repayment program would provide financial relief to pediatric rheumatology fellows. Loan repayment programs are successful in improving workforce shortages. Increasing the rheumatology workforce is a priority of the College.
Letters have been sent to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calf.), Energy & Commerce Committee Chairman Henry Waxman (D-Calf.), Ways and Means Committee Chairman Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.), Energy & Commerce Committee Ranking Member Joe Barton (R-Texas), Ways & Means Committee Ranking Member George Miller (R-Calf.) urging inclusion of the Pediatric Loan Repayment Program in the merged House-Senate health reform bill. Section 5203 is included in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (H.R. 3590), the Senate health reform bill, and is the only program specifically designed to help bring more physicians into training for pediatric specialty medicine.
