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- CAP Asks Congress to Increase GME Funding
The CAP and over 70 other medical professional and educational groups asked Congress to increase Medicare funding for graduate medical education (GME) in the upcoming budget reconciliation legislation. The CAP has long advocated for an increase funding to support more GME residency slots, which is key to addressing critical shortages of pathologists in the coming years.
In the July 18 letter to congressional leadership, the CAP and the coalition outlined how the COVID-19 pandemic is burning out the US medical workforce. In the letter, the group discussed how the US “is facing a shortage of up to 124,000 physicians by 2034, which is almost certain to be exacerbated by an aging physician population, rising rates of physician burnout, and early retirement due to the COVID-19 pandemic.” The coalition understands that the lack of physicians will hurt patients the most, especially in underserved areas. They strongly urged Congress to ensure patient access to care, improve provider diversity and health equity, and prepare for the next public health crisis by investing more in physician training.
The CAP has consistently asked legislators to increase GME funding to increase residency slots, which is key to addressing critical shortages of pathologists in the coming years.