Source: United States Senator for Florida Marco Rubio
Physician shortages are making primary and specialty care less accessible to Americans, especially in more remote and impoverished areas of the nation. The shortfall is expected to worsen over the coming decade.
U.S. Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) introduced the Restoring America’s Health Care Workforce and Readiness Act. The bill would increase funding for the National Health Service Corps to expand America’s supply of health care workers.
- “If you’ve tried to go to the doctor lately, you’re well aware there is a nationwide shortage of physicians, nurses, and other health professionals. Increasing our investment in the National Health Service Corps will remedy that shortage by encouraging more people to pursue careers in the medical field and service in areas of need.” – Senator Rubio
- “Our health care professionals put their all into caring for their patients, but the demands of the pandemic have exacerbated workforce shortages, especially in our underserved rural and urban communities. Through scholarship and loan repayment, the National Health Service Corps is the premier program to build the pipeline of doctors, nurses, dentists, and behavioral health providers across America. I’m thankful for Senator Rubio’s partnership in increasing investments to help recruit the next generation of health care providers.” – Senator Durbin
The senators’ bill would reauthorize funding for the National Health Service Corps and extend it through Fiscal Year 2026. Rubio and Durbin previously introduced the Strengthening America’s Health Care Readiness Act, a similar proposal, in 2020 and 2021.