RENO, NV — Today, U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV), a member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions, joined faculty and staff of the Truckee Meadows Community College (TMCC) for a nursing workforce shortage roundtable with TMCC representatives, nursing faculty, and nursing students. Senator Rosen also toured TMCC’s health sciences facilities. Rosen recently sent a letter to Comptroller General Gene L. Dodaro requesting a report from GAO that outlines solutions for addressing the physician shortage and access to health care services. According to the Health Resources and Services Administration, nationwide 14,900 primary care providers are currently needed to fill this gap. Nevada ranks 48th in the nation in terms of primary care physicians per capita.
“Health care is such an important issue to Nevadans, and TMCC is helping to lead the way in developing the next generation of medical professionals,” said Senator Rosen. “The medical workforce shortage in this state is having a detrimental effect on the health of Nevadans. I’ll continue to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to develop bipartisan solutions to ensure all Nevadans have access to the quality, affordable health care they deserve.”
“We need elected officials like Senator Rosen who are focused on addressing our state’s shortage of medical professionals.” said Dr. Karin Hilgerson, President of Truckee Meadows Community College. “I’m grateful to Senator Rosen for pushing for better access to medical care for Nevadans.”
BACKGROUND: Last Congress, then-Congresswoman Rosen supported the Resident Physician Shortage Act of 2017 (H.R. 2267), which would work to reduce the shortage of physicians in the United States by increasing the number of Medicare-supported graduate medical education (GME) residency slots at U.S. hospitals, as well as Medicare-supported hospital residency positions.
This year, Senator Rosen introduced the Building Blocks of STEM Act (S.737) to provide better access to STEM education to provide students greater opportunities to pursue careers in science and health.
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