Pediatric Issues
Contact: Matt Coffron, mcoffron@facs.org
Pediatric Loan Repayment Program
Congressman Jim McDermott (D-WA) circulated a letter requesting $5 million for the Pediatric Subspecialty Loan Repayment Program. The letter was sent to the Appropriations Committee with 23 signatures on March 20, 2012. President Obama’s budget for fiscal year (FY) 2013, released on February 13, includes $5 million in funding for the Pediatric Subspecialist Loan Repayment Program, which was created under the Affordable Care Act. The College also recently signed on to a letter to President Obama in appreciation of the request, and letters to House and Senate appropriators urging them to include the $5 million for the program in the FY2013 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education appropriations bill. If this initial $5 million is appropriated, it would allow for up to 64 two-year loan reimbursement grants to pediatric subspecialists, including pediatric surgeons.
ACS Joins Push to Designate Funding for Pediatric Subspecialty Loan Repayment Program (60K PDF) 3/14/12
2011
ACS Supports Children’s Hospital Graduate Medical Education (CHGME) Legislation
This September, the College sent letters to Senators Bob Casey (D-PA) and Johnny Isakson (R-GA) and Representatives Joe Pitts (R-PA) and Frank Pallone (D-NJ) thanking them for authoring the Children’s Hospital GME Support Reauthorization Act of 2011 (S.958/H.R. 1852). CHGME hospitals train 43 percent of pediatric specialists, making reauthorization of the program vital to sustaining the pediatric workforce and protecting the health of children. H.R. 1852 passed the House on September 20 by voice vote and it is now up to the Senate to consider the legislation.
Click here to view the Senate letter (320K PDF)
Click here to view the House letter (320K PDF)
ACS Signs Letter of Support for the Pediatric Subspecialty Loan Repayment Program
On July 26, the American College of Surgeons along with 25 other organizations concerned about the adequacy of the pediatric workforce sent a letter to House and Senate Appropriators in support of funding for the pediatric subspecialty loan repayment program created by the Affordable Care Act. This program, if funded, could provide up to $35,000 in loan repayments per year for up to three years for pediatric surgeons and other specialists who agree to practice in shortage areas for at least 2 years. The program was authorized at $30 million for each fiscal year (FY) between 2010 and 2014 but to date has received no funding. Given the current difficult budget environment, the letter requests a modest appropriation of $5 million for the program for FY2012 which begins October 1, 2011.
Revised April 4, 2012