Political Quotes

“I want to first thank the members of the Appropriations Committee for recognizing the ongoing and critical shortage of primary care physicians and behavioral health specialists, a trend that is projected to continue into the coming years, by requesting that HRSA, the Health Resources and Services Administration, issue a report to Congress on how to better recruit and train these health professionals, as well as recommendations to address health professional staffing shortages. My amendment serves to underscore the importance of the requested report and to encourage HRSA to not just analyze how these efforts can improve staffing shortages in underserved areas, but how we can increase the number of physicians serving in community health centers located in those areas. Delaware, like many States around the country, is facing a severe primary care physician shortage. In 2018, there were just 815 primary care physicians in Delaware, down 5.4 percent from 2013. {time} 0145 According to HRSA, of the three counties in Delaware, two of them, Kent and Sussex, exceed the 2,000 to 1 primary-doctor-to-patient ratio, which is a benchmark for shortages. According to a study commissioned by the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services, this trend is going to significantly impact the State's rural, downstate communities.…”