U.S. Rep. Lloyd Smucker (R-PA) introduced a bill Monday to strengthen the pediatric workforce within the healthcare industry.
The Strengthening Our Pediatric Workforce Act would provide grants to existing children’s hospital residency programs. These grants would be used to address pediatric health disparities in medical training by preparing residents to treat children dealing with opioid overuse, child abuse, poverty, and access to care issues.
In the United States, 26 percent of children have a chronic health condition such as diabetes, obesity or asthma, according to Smucker’s office, and one in four children meet the criteria for a mental health disorder.
“Far too frequently, inadequate availability of care leaves needy families with few treatment options,” Smucker said. “Many of these people are forced to travel for hours for health care services or end up relying on emergency departments, which are expensive. We need to make sure we are helping the neediest in our communities receive quality health care. This effort starts by ensuring the next generation of doctors are trained to address health disparities to improve care outcomes.”
Under the bill, larger hospital residency programs would be eligible to receive bonus payments. Hospitals in rural and medically underserved communities with medical professional shortages would qualify.