In Response to Coronavirus, Rosen Urges Nevadans to Take Precautions, Calls on Senate Leaders to Take Up and Pass Legislation She’s Introduced to Increase Number of Medical Professionals, Access to Medical Care

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, in response to the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) released the following statement urging Nevadans to take precautions to keep themselves healthy, as well as calling for immediate passage of several pieces of bipartisan legislation she has introduced that would increase both the number of medical professionals across the U.S., as well as expand access to medical care.
 
“Protecting the health of Nevadans is my top priority. I am working closely with our Governor and the Nevada congressional delegation to fight for federal funding and provide the services our constituents need,” said Senator Rosen. “The current situation with the coronavirus reminds us that we must take precautions, including frequently washing hands and practicing cough etiquette. We must also take action to bolster our health care system by increasing the number of medical professionals in our country, and the availability of access to care that they provide. These are issues I have worked on since coming to Congress, and have introduced multiple pieces of bipartisan legislation to address. In the coming weeks, I will work closely with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to make sure our health care systems have the funding and resources they need, and will continue to urge the Senate to take up bills that will strengthen our nation’s medical capabilities.”
 
BACKGROUND: Updates on the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as well as the Nevada Department of Health and Human Services can be found on the Senator’s webpage.
 
Senator Rosen is a cosponsor of the bipartisan Resident Physician Shortage Act of 2019 (S.348), 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.
 
Earlier this year, Senator Rosen helped introduce the bipartisan Conrad State 30 and Physician Access Reauthorization Act, which would reauthorize the “Conrad 30” program that allows special visas for immigrant doctors to work in medically underserved areas.
 
In January, Senator Rosen introduced the Improving Access to Health Care in Rural and Underserved Areas Act, bipartisan legislation that would provide additional support for primary care providers in rural and underserved areas through accredited continuing medical education and clinical support.
 
Last year, Senator Rosen introduced the bipartisan 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. Last December, the Building Blocks of STEM Act was signed into law by the President.
 
In June, Senator Rosen also cosponsored the Training the Next Generation of Primary Care Doctors Act. This bipartisan legislation would reauthorize the Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education program for five years and provide an increase in funding to allow for program expansion.

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